Energy Management Solutions

Indoor Grow Fundamentals

Many agricultural products are now moving inside to grow. The global indoor farming market was valued at $26.8 billion in 2018, and is expected to reach $ 40.25 billion by 2022.
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Among the advantages of indoor growing is the higher yield compared to traditional farming, along with the consumer demand for pesticide/herbicide free food. Also, new opportunities for indoor farming now exist as a result of the legalization of Hemp federally and Marijuana in many states.
The science, technology and understanding of indoor farming has dramatically improved, and as a result, the economic benefit and profitability of growing plants indoors is possible.
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The wavelengths that are visible to the human eye range from 400 to 700 nm, which are also the wavelengths most used by plants for photosynthesis. However, plants are much more sensitive to red light (640-680 nm) than to other wavelengths, whereas the human eye is more sensitive to green and yellow.
Consequently, grow lights that appear bright to the human eye might not be all that useful to plants.
Plants are able to sense wavelengths as short as 360 nm (UV-C) and as long as 730 nm (far-red).

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Humans and Plants Utilize Light in Different Ways

Humans need light to see. Plants must absorb light as energy in order to grow.

Humans use Lumens to measure the total amount of visible light from a light source. The higher the lumen rating, the brighter the lamp’s appearance. But lumens tell us nothing about the distribution of that light energy over the spectrum. A high lumen rating does not necessarily make a lamp better suited for growing plants.

PAR (photosynthetic active radiation) is the light radiation which plants utilize for photosynthesis. The ability of a plant to absorb light as energy deals with wavelengths, measured in nanometers, as discussed to the left.

Traditionally, Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) was considered to be all radiation (micromoles of photons emitted) between the wavelengths of 400nm-700nm (the McCree Curve) that plants use for photosynthesis. That definition has now evolved to include some UV-A (below 400mn) and Far Red (above 700nm). Any photons (a quantum, or particle of light) within this spectrum that are absorbed by the plant will contribute to photosynthesis. The rate of photosynthesis at these wavelengths is yet to be determined. As scientists are actively studying this concept, expect a new PAR curve in the future.

Not all wavelengths, however, have an equal likelihood of being absorbed, as determined by the various plant pigments. Plants are more likely to absorb light in some wavelengths than others.

Topic: Grow Light Spectra

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Plants have evolved to grow best in full-spectrum light, which includes wavelengths between 400 and 700 nanometers (nm). They react most strongly to light at 400-460nm (blue spectrum) and 580-700nm (red spectrum), according to the McCree curve.

Photosynthesis Review

Photosynthesis: The process used by plants to convert light energy into chemical energy that can later be released to fuel the plant. Photo means "light" and synthesis means "to put together". A plant uses light to put together chemical compounds and turn them into carbohydrates (food).

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Indoor Grow Lighting

Indoor Grow Fundamentals

Humans and Plants Utilize Light in Different Ways

Topic: Grow Light Spectra

Photosynthesis Review

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