Key Takeaways:
- Delphy partnered with Sollum Technologies to improve pepper production using dynamic LED lighting.
- Trials showed increased total yields and better fruit quality compared to static LED systems.
- Tailored lighting strategies addressed variety-specific growth challenges, improving uniformity and efficiency.
- Sollum’s dynamic LED lighting optimized Light Use Efficiency (LUE) and reduced energy use.
What Challenges Do Traditional LED Systems Present in Pepper Production?
Traditional LED systems create difficulties in growing peppers, including:
- Low Transpiration Rates: Hinders nutrient uptake and plant health.
- Growth Variability: Different internode lengths and fruit development rates across varieties complicate uniform production.
- Inconsistent Quality: Difficulties achieving consistent yields and fruit classification.
How Did Sollum Technologies and Delphy Improve Pepper Production?
Delphy, a leader in agricultural research, partnered with Sollum Technologies (Profile) to trial dynamic LED lighting. The project aimed to:
- Enhance yield and fruit quality.
- Optimize energy use through dynamic lighting adjustments.
- Improve crop uniformity by tailoring light conditions to individual pepper varieties.
Trial Details:
- Planting Date: Early October.
- Lighting Strategy: 16-hour day length using Sollum’s dynamic LED system.
- PPFD Levels: 250-270 µmol/m²/s.
Dynamic adjustments focused on far-red light strategies, spectrum fine-tuning, and plant development optimization, creating ideal growth conditions throughout the production cycle.
What Were the Results of the Dynamic LED Lighting Trials?
The dynamic LED system (2023-2024) outperformed the static LED system (2020-2021):
| Metric | 2023-2024 (Dynamic LED) | 2020-2021 (Static LED) |
|---|---|---|
| Class I Yield (kg/m²) | 41.75 | 40.74 |
| Class II Yield (kg/m²) | 1.06 | 2.36 |
| Total Yield (kg/m²) | 46.71 | 45.67 |
How Did Sollum’s Dynamic LED Solution Overcome Challenges?
Sollum Technologies’ innovative approach addressed traditional LED limitations by:
- Tailored Lighting Recipes: Adjusted light spectra to meet variety-specific needs.
- Far-Red Reduction: Enhanced leaf quality and overall crop performance.
- Improved LUE: Achieved 6.2 grams/mol, maximizing light-to-biomass conversion.
- Consistent Fruit Weight: Maintained stable weights of 190-220 grams, with a 44-day outgrowth period from fruit set to harvest.
Why Is This Significant for Greenhouse Growers?
The partnership demonstrated how dynamic LED lighting can transform greenhouse operations:
- Higher Productivity: Increased total yields and minimized lower-grade produce.
- Energy Efficiency: Reduced energy use while improving crop quality.
- Market Alignment: Consistently produced high-quality peppers to meet growing demand.
“With tailored spectral recipes and dynamic light adjustments, growers can achieve exceptional results, streamline operations, and confidently meet evolving market needs,” said Sam Soltaninejad, Chief Horticultural Specialist at Sollum Technologies.
Read the entire case study here.
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