Horticulture Lighting Control for Plant Stomatal Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In horticulture, especially in controlled environments like greenhouses and vertical farms, there is a challenge in providing uniform light to all parts of plants, particularly the lower regions which often receive insufficient light from high-mounted high-power lamps, leading to reduced growth and efficiency in energy use.
Innovation Solution
A horticulture lighting system that includes a control system to provide a brief pulse of blue light, specifically targeting the abaxial side of leaves, which serves as a 'wake-up' stimulus to enhance stomatal opening and subsequent photosynthesis, while the main lighting provides photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and far-red light for biomass production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If high-power lamps are mounted high above plants to provide sufficient light coverage, then the illumination area is increased, but the lower parts of plants receive insufficient light leading to reduced growth
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple independent LED modules positioned at different heights and angles. These modules work together to provide both broad coverage and focused intensity to lower plant regions, resolving the contradiction between large illumination area and sufficient light intensity at depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical and angular positioning dimensions for light sources. By placing LED modules at various heights and tilt angles rather than a single horizontal plane, the system achieves both wide coverage and penetrating light distribution to lower plant parts.
2Illumination intensity
If high-power lamps are used to provide sufficient light intensity, then photosynthesis is enhanced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system uses periodic pulsing of LED modules rather than continuous operation. By synchronizing light pulses with plant physiological rhythms and providing targeted illumination only when needed, the system maintains effective photosynthesis while significantly reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Different LED modules provide different light qualities and intensities tailored to specific plant zones. This localized optimization ensures that energy is not wasted on areas that already receive sufficient light, while concentrating energy where it is most needed for photosynthesis.
3Productivity
If continuous light is provided to maximize photosynthesis, then biomass production increases, but plant stress increases and growth efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic lighting cycles with varying intensities and spectral compositions. By alternating between high-intensity photosynthesis-promoting phases and lower-intensity recovery phases, the system maximizes biomass production while preventing plant stress that would result from continuous high-intensity illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system dynamically changes multiple parameters including intensity, spectrum, and duration based on plant needs and environmental conditions. This adaptive parameter modulation optimizes photosynthesis efficiency while avoiding stress conditions, achieving high productivity without harmful effects.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a horticulture lighting system (100), comprising (i) a lighting device (110) configured to provide horticulture light (111) and (ii) a control system (200) configured to control the horticulture light (111), wherein the control system (200) is further configured to provide according to a predetermined time scheme and/or as function of a sensor signal a pulse of horticulture light (111) in a spectral wavelength region at least comprising blue light (112) during a pulse period selected from the range of 1-60 min.