Dynamic lighting lifts multi-layer tulip cultivation to next level

Multi-layer cultivation with tulips has been on the rise for some years. It offers easily imaginable advantages such as less floor space and energy savings, but also creates new challenges. The search for the correct lighting is one of the main challenges.

That also was the starting point of a recently concluded two-year study by Plant Lighting and Proeftuin Zwaagdijk. Based on the results from the first study year, Illumicent installed dynamic growth lighting in October 2016, in the middle of the three layers of tulips at Dutch grower Niels Kreuk. "With success," Niels says. "The quality this season is excellent."

 

Illumicent specializes in customizable LED lighting for greenhouse horticulture. Besides Niels, the company that helped finance the research is also well pleased with the results so far. Michel van Og: "With the Dynamic LED modules from Illumicent it is possible to adjust both the spectrum and the light intensity through software. This enables tulip growers to tune the lighting system to the desired growth characteristics of different tulip varieties. In addition, Illumicent uses specific optics with which a high light distribution is achieved, resulting in fewer light lines per area."

Earlier, it was found that with a low intensity of the correct light spectrum, it is possible to control for a good leaf spread. At Niels’ where growing in three layers has been going on since 2012, the bottom two layers were lighted with 'normal' LED modules. "Fine, the lights can be switched on or off and that's all. With the Illumicent modules you have all the options. Not that we know all at the moment, so not all cultivars perform equally well under a specific light program. But we are on the right track."

Besides Niels Kreuk, another six other tulip growers participated in the study. The installation as is used at Niels’ is the very first in accordance with the results of the report.