The Signify product range for greenhouse horticulture lighting has been expanded. The new version of the Greenpower LED toplighting linear was launched by Signify during IPM in Essen, Germany. Erik Jansen, floriculture LED business development manager at Signify, explains that this is already generation 1.3.
“In short, it comes down to the fact that the great advantage of this new lamp is the large amount of light. Moreover, the linear toplighting is the perfect solution if you, as a grower, are looking for the most uniform light distribution in your greenhouse. The maximum light output has been increased from 620 to 1000 μmol/s. The light intensity of this lamp is equivalent to the 600 W Son-T lamp. But it only requires a maximum of 300 to 325 W of energy, depending on the spectrum. So this lamp uses about half the power, while the light output is the same. A good combination; the lamp produces noticeably more light and is a lot more energy efficient.”
On the one hand, the operational costs will decrease thanks to the lower power consumption. And on the other, it provides more light for the crop. It is clear that a lot of light is a good thing.
With potted plants and young plants, you can save on inhibitors through LED light. The plants become more compact and get a good structure. If a plant is too stretched, that can also cause problems during transport, because the plant gets damaged if it is too close to the next layer on the trolley.
Erik Jansen: "The color of the flowers is also more intense thanks to the use of LED light compared to Son-T. The flowers are brighter in color. Furthermore, rooting and growth are faster; the plant blooms faster.” Signify is doing a lot of tests and the results are very clear; the use of LED lighting offers the grower many advantages.
Chemistry
We already mentioned more compact plants. The compactness also makes the plant more resilient. More resilient because the plant has more dry matter and a better root system. The plant has fewer problems with fungi, such as botrytis and mildew, and harmful insects.
The use of LED lighting has increased. Erik: “That is completely clear in Lisianthus, a product where traditionally a lot of lighting is used. Often there is already LED in the greenhouse. 500 µmol/s/m2 is now the highest there and I expect that this will become common. Everything is pointing towards that."
Erik: "The horticulture sector used to be amazed at 100 μmol/m2/s. Now they don't even blink at 400 μmol/s/m2. The current standard in Lisianthus is now 250-500 umol/s/m2. They know that the quality and speed is higher. And that is beneficial for the grower. These days, those light levels are only getting higher and higher. With high pressure lamps you reach the limit, because they get too hot. Then the leaf may burn at the edges of, for example, lettuce and young plants."
For more information you can contact Erik Jansen:
Signify
Erik Jansen
E: e.jansen@signify.com
M: +31 (0)6 11 516 780
www.philips.com/horti