A Comprehensive Overview On The Use Of LED Grow Lights In Crop Production

By Cynthia Hayes


LED is an abbreviation for Light Emitting Diodes. The diodes used in agriculture are not similar to the ones used in electrical components. The strength of the diodes is enhanced for growing purposes and this is made possible by the proximity of diodes. This guide is aimed at educating people all about LED grow lights.

For LEDs a single wavelength can be emitted as required. This is not however the case for the common light bulbs. These bulbs emit a wide range of wavelengths which form the final white light by combining the wavelengths together. Power adjustments are done by increasing the number of diodes or even by controlling the brightness of these diodes.

Numerous studies have been commissioned with the aim of gaining an understanding on the effect the sun gives to plants. The benefits availed by the sun are sometimes overshadowed by the fact that chlorophyll formation is greatly reduced in its presence. This is as a result of some wavelengths it produces. For this reason the adoption of LED technology became necessary to counter this.

Some people are hindered from undertaking fruitful agricultural production by the lack of sufficient durations of sun exposure. This scenario calls for innovativeness in ensuring that chlorophyll production continues. Through diodes this scientific breakthrough was arrived at as a viable way of ensuring the plants develop. The reduction in the available arable land has posed a major challenge to many aspiring farmers. It is through the utilization of indoor spaces fitted with LEDs that this challenge has been overcome.

The minute levels of heat emission experience by the use of diodes make it a good fit for agriculture. This allows the diodes to be strategically fixed near the plants so as to help the plants take advantage of proximity of all wavelengths. This helps facilitate plant growth and it is possible only because diodes do not use produce a lot of heat as a result of low energy consumption.

The reduced heat also cools the surrounding environment. This will make the plants transpire less and therefore the overall water consumption by the plants is reduced significantly. Studies have shown that the height of the plants can be easily controlled when using LEDs. This is made possible by the fact that the growth of a plant can be halted once its height reaches a certain distance from the diodes.

Other lighting alternatives heavily rely on the use of systems known as ballasts in their operations. They reduce incidences where the system damages itself. These tools can be very bulky and will often lead to increases in the usage of energy. The energy consumption is therefore kept in check by using diodes instead of the other out-dated units.

The intensity that the wavelengths are transmitted to the plants is easily adjustable by controlling the degree of brightness produced by the diodes. Scientists have also associated the increase in the anti-oxidation abilities of plants to ability to vary the intensity of the wavelength. For agricultural purposes one should consider the different benefits availed by the different products in the market. The energy consumption should be determined to be efficient and the unit should have the ability to cool itself. The spectrum produced must be deemed suitable for that very purpose.




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