Optimal Light Intensity for Lettuce Growth, Quality, and Photosynthesis in Plant Factories
In agriculture, one of the most crucial elements for sustained plant production is light. Artificial lighting can meet the specific light requirements of various plants. However, it is a challenge to find optimal lighting schemes that can facilitate a balance of plant growth and nutritional qualitie...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-09-01
|
| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/18/2616 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850259751723597824 |
|---|---|
| author | Mengdi Dai Xiangfeng Tan Ziran Ye Jianjie Ren Xuting Chen Dedong Kong |
| author_facet | Mengdi Dai Xiangfeng Tan Ziran Ye Jianjie Ren Xuting Chen Dedong Kong |
| author_sort | Mengdi Dai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In agriculture, one of the most crucial elements for sustained plant production is light. Artificial lighting can meet the specific light requirements of various plants. However, it is a challenge to find optimal lighting schemes that can facilitate a balance of plant growth and nutritional qualities. In this study, we experimented with the light intensity required for plant growth and nutrient elements. We designed three light intensity treatments, 180 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> (L1), 210 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> (L2), and 240 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> (L3), to investigate the effect of light intensity on lettuce growth and quality. It can be clearly seen from the radar charts that L2 significantly affected the plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area. L3 mainly affected the canopy diameter and root shoot ratio. The effect of L1 on lettuce phenotype was not significant compared with that of the others. The total soluble sugar, vitamin C, nitrate, and free amino acid in lettuce showed more significant increases under the L2 treatment than under the other treatments. In addition, the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were opposite to each other. The comprehensive evaluation of the membership function value method and heatmap analysis showed that lettuce had the highest membership function value in L2 light intensity conditions, indicating that the lettuce grown under this light intensity could obtain higher yield and better quality. This study provides a new insight into finding the best environmental factors to balance plant nutrition and growth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2849c409c3b4484e885d2bc5a612cf91 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-2849c409c3b4484e885d2bc5a612cf912025-08-20T01:55:48ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-09-011318261610.3390/plants13182616Optimal Light Intensity for Lettuce Growth, Quality, and Photosynthesis in Plant FactoriesMengdi Dai0Xiangfeng Tan1Ziran Ye2Jianjie Ren3Xuting Chen4Dedong Kong5Institute of Digital Agriculture, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, ChinaInstitute of Digital Agriculture, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, ChinaInstitute of Digital Agriculture, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, ChinaShangyu Agricultural Technology Extension Center, Shaoxing 312300, ChinaInstitute of Digital Agriculture, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, ChinaInstitute of Digital Agriculture, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, ChinaIn agriculture, one of the most crucial elements for sustained plant production is light. Artificial lighting can meet the specific light requirements of various plants. However, it is a challenge to find optimal lighting schemes that can facilitate a balance of plant growth and nutritional qualities. In this study, we experimented with the light intensity required for plant growth and nutrient elements. We designed three light intensity treatments, 180 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> (L1), 210 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> (L2), and 240 μmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> (L3), to investigate the effect of light intensity on lettuce growth and quality. It can be clearly seen from the radar charts that L2 significantly affected the plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area. L3 mainly affected the canopy diameter and root shoot ratio. The effect of L1 on lettuce phenotype was not significant compared with that of the others. The total soluble sugar, vitamin C, nitrate, and free amino acid in lettuce showed more significant increases under the L2 treatment than under the other treatments. In addition, the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were opposite to each other. The comprehensive evaluation of the membership function value method and heatmap analysis showed that lettuce had the highest membership function value in L2 light intensity conditions, indicating that the lettuce grown under this light intensity could obtain higher yield and better quality. This study provides a new insight into finding the best environmental factors to balance plant nutrition and growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/18/2616plant phenotypeplant physiologyphotosynthesisLED light |
| spellingShingle | Mengdi Dai Xiangfeng Tan Ziran Ye Jianjie Ren Xuting Chen Dedong Kong Optimal Light Intensity for Lettuce Growth, Quality, and Photosynthesis in Plant Factories Plants plant phenotype plant physiology photosynthesis LED light |
| title | Optimal Light Intensity for Lettuce Growth, Quality, and Photosynthesis in Plant Factories |
| title_full | Optimal Light Intensity for Lettuce Growth, Quality, and Photosynthesis in Plant Factories |
| title_fullStr | Optimal Light Intensity for Lettuce Growth, Quality, and Photosynthesis in Plant Factories |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimal Light Intensity for Lettuce Growth, Quality, and Photosynthesis in Plant Factories |
| title_short | Optimal Light Intensity for Lettuce Growth, Quality, and Photosynthesis in Plant Factories |
| title_sort | optimal light intensity for lettuce growth quality and photosynthesis in plant factories |
| topic | plant phenotype plant physiology photosynthesis LED light |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/18/2616 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mengdidai optimallightintensityforlettucegrowthqualityandphotosynthesisinplantfactories AT xiangfengtan optimallightintensityforlettucegrowthqualityandphotosynthesisinplantfactories AT ziranye optimallightintensityforlettucegrowthqualityandphotosynthesisinplantfactories AT jianjieren optimallightintensityforlettucegrowthqualityandphotosynthesisinplantfactories AT xutingchen optimallightintensityforlettucegrowthqualityandphotosynthesisinplantfactories AT dedongkong optimallightintensityforlettucegrowthqualityandphotosynthesisinplantfactories |