Lighting Tomatoes Like Never Before

A 19.5% YIELD BOOST

Same compartment, same grape tomato crop. Only difference? Sollum’s dynamic spectrum lighting strategy.

Introduction

In a commercial greenhouse trial conducted in Ontario, Canada, two dynamic lighting strategies were put to the test against broad spectrum static LED system. Over a 22-week growing period, the verdict was clear: lighting that adapts to environmental and physiological conditions delivers more tomatoes.

The Challenges

Grape tomatoes are high-value, but they’re also high maintenance. They require optimal photosynthetic efficiency, especially during the lowlight months. Static LED systems often miss the mark – they can’t respond to the crop’s changing needs throughout the day as well as the growing season.

Sollum Technologies partnered with a commercial grower to trial a smarter way forward:

• Shift spectrum based on the crop’s daily rhythm.
• Explore how blue supplemental morning lighting (B-SML) impacts plant response.
• Benchmark both strategies against a fixed-spectrum LED system.

Putting Dynamic Lighting to the Test

• Crop: Grape tomato
• Location: Commercial greenhouse, Ontario, Canada
• Planting date: September 2024
• Lighting period: October to March (22 weeks)

Three Lighting Strategies

• Sollum 1: Broad + far-red spectrum ➡ midday red shift ➡ broad + far-red
• Sollum 2: B-SML ➡ broad + far-red
• Control: Static spectrum LED lighting

The Results

✅ Up to 19.5% yield increase with Sollum's dynamic lighting.

✅ Both Sollum strategies outperformed broad spectrum static LEDs, with no other infrastructure changes.

✅ Crop uniformity and vigor also improved, with earlier harvest installation.

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Why it worked

• Midday spectral shift: Tomatoes are most photosynthetically active midday. By dialing up the red-light component when chlorophyll absorption peaks, Sollum helped the crop convert light into biomass more efficiently.
• B-SML strategy: Applying a short burst of blue light at dawn “primes” the stomata, improving gas exchange and letting the plant hit peak photosynthesis sooner. Think of it as a physiological jump-start.
• Real-time spectrum control: Unlike fixed systems, Sollum’s SUNaaS® platform allows automatic spectrum shifts in real time throughout the day, giving growers the power to adapt continuously to plant needs, energy rates, and ambient light without having to intervene.

More Than Just Yield

The trial wasn’t just about growing more. It was about growing smarter.

• No changes to HVAC or fertigation systems.
• Seamless integration into existing operations.
• Precise spectrum adjustments = higher output per watt.

Conclusion

This grower didn’t make any changes to the existing system – just smarter lighting.

This trial demonstrates the power of dynamic lighting, adjusting to the crop's needs rather than forcing the crop to adapt to static supplemental lighting. With Sollum's dynamic LEDs, growers give their crops the flexibility to adjust to changing conditions, ensuring optimal growth.

Let’s talk about what dynamic lighting could do for your next crop. Contact our Customer Success team today.

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