Optimizing pepper production under dynamic LED lighting

Proud LED lighting partner at Delphy

Delphy, a globally recognized leader in agricultural research and consultancy, partnered with Sollum Technologies to trial dynamic LED lighting for pepper production. This collaboration resulted in the most productive pepper cultivation research conducted under LEDs at Delphy, setting a new standard for innovation and efficiency in greenhouse operations.

Overcoming challenges in pepper production

Growing peppers under traditional LED systems often presents growers with significant challenges:
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- Low transpiration rates, impacting nutrient uptake.
- Varied growth rates and internode lengths across different varieties, complicating uniform production.

Sollum’s dynamic LED lighting solution addresses these issues by tailoring light intensity and spectrum to the specific needs of each variety, ensuring optimal growth conditions throughout the production cycle.

Trial overview

Objective: enhance pepper production and Light Use Efficiency (LUE) under dynamic LED lighting.

Setup:
- Planting date: early October.
- PPFD levels: 250-270 μmol/m²/s.
- Lighting strategy: 16-hour day length using adaptive dynamic lighting.
- Trial period: Week 40 to Week 22 (end of May). However, the trial lasted until the end of August.

Dynamic adjustments: focused on fine-tuning far-red strategies and spectrum adjustments to optimize internode length, fruit set, and plant development.

Key results

Yield and quality improvements:
- Total yield: Increased from 45.67 kg/m² (2020-2021 trial) to 46.71 kg/m² in the 2023-2024 trial.
- Class I peppers: Improved from 40.74 kg/m² to 41.75 kg/m², reflecting higher quality.
- Class II peppers: Reduced from 2.36 kg/m² to 1.06 kg/m², minimizing lower-grade produce.

Efficiency gains

- Light Use Efficiency (LUE): Achieved a remarkable 6.2 grams/mol, optimizing light-to-biomass conversion.

- Fruit stability: Maintained consistent fruit weights of 190-220 grams, with a rapid outgrowth period of 44 days from fruit set to harvest.

Strategic lighting insights

- Far-red light reduction: Enhanced leaf quality and overall crop performance.

- Tailored spectral recipes: Enabled precise adjustments for variety-specific needs, ensuring consistent quality across all cultivars.

Comparison with previous trials

Conclusion

This trial demonstrates how Sollum’s dynamic LED lighting solution is transforming pepper production:

- Higher productivity: Increased yields and improved fruit quality.
- Optimized energy use: Enhanced LUE and efficient lighting adjustments.
- Variety-specific solutions: Tailored lighting strategies to address the unique needs of each cultivar.

By integrating Sollum’s innovative dynamic lighting solution, greenhouse growers can achieve exceptional results, streamline operations, and meet evolving market demands with confidence.

Want to learn more about Sollum Technologies and its dynamic LED grow light solution? Visit our Case studies section or contact our team.