Fluence research demonstrates superior performance with a strategy combining high-intensity inter-canopy lighting and overhead lighting

In collaboration with Wageningen University & Research, Fluence studied how inter-canopy lighting, combined with overhead lighting, influenced the yields and morphology of cucumber and tomato varieties

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fluence by OSRAM (Fluence), a leading global provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial cannabis and food production, has released the results of its research on inter-canopy lighting, conducted in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Fluence’s research demonstrated that high-intensity inter-canopy lighting, combined with overhead lighting, increased yields of the Hi Power and Skyson cucumber varieties, as well as the Merlice and Brioso tomato varieties.

Following Fluence’s multi-year research on the overall effects of broad-spectrum lighting solutions on plant development, Fluence and WUR studied the effects of different lighting distributions and intensities on plant morphology and fruit quality over the course of a winter season.

«Growers have been using the same benchmarks for vineyard lighting strategies for decades. Until now, these benchmarks were typically tied to varieties grown under high-pressure sodium lamps, which limited the potential light intensity due to excessive heat,» said David Hawley, principal scientist at Fluence. «LEDs virtually eliminate this limitation. As Fluence seeks to explore how growers can become as productive as possible while maximizing their revenue, we wanted to study not only how higher light intensities affect crops but also how crops utilize energy at the canopy level. Our research has unequivocally demonstrated that inter-canopy lighting, combined with a high-intensity overhead lighting strategy, increases yields compared to conventional lighting strategies.»

Fluence and WUR studied cucumber and tomato varieties in the Netherlands under four lighting conditions: overhead lighting only at 250 µmol/m^-2/s^-1, overhead lighting and inter-canopy lighting at 250 µmol/m^-2/s^-1, high-intensity lighting only at 375 µmol/m^-2/s^-1, and overhead lighting and inter-canopy lighting at 375 µmol/m^-2/s^-1. Using modes that combine overhead lighting and inter-canopy lighting, two-thirds of the PPDF (photosynthetic photon flux density) was delivered at the canopy top via Fluence’s VYPR lighting, with the remaining one-third delivered via Fluence’s VYNE inter-canopy lighting.

The main findings of this research are as follows:

• Adding inter-canopy lighting at the highest total intensity increased the cumulative yield of the two cucumber varieties to 110 %, compared to the overhead lighting-only treatment at the lowest intensity.
• Similarly, adding inter-canopy lighting at the highest total intensity allowed for a less aggressive pruning strategy, which, in combination with thehighest light intensity, resulted in an increase of up to 53 % in the cumulative number of cucumber fruits for both varieties, compared to the top-lighting-only treatment at the lowest intensity.
• Both cucumber varieties also showed a decrease in total plant height and a more compact morphology in the treatments with the highest intensity.
• Adding inter-canopy lighting at the highest total intensity also increased the cumulative yield of total fruit to 62 % and 57 %, respectively, for the two tomato varieties, compared to a system using only overhead lighting at the lowest intensity.

To ensure high-quality harvests year-round, greenhouse cucumber and tomato growers often explore additional lighting strategies to provide their crops with the most appropriate lighting during the fall and winter months, when there is less natural light. Thanks to the latest research from Fluence and WUR on inter-canopy lighting, growers can now consider new lighting distribution options to optimize yield and quality and meet their harvest goals.

To learn more about Fluence and the company's ongoing research projects, visit www.fluence.science.

About Fluence by OSRAM

Fluence Bioengineering, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of OSRAM, creates powerful, energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial crop production and research applications. A leading LED lighting supplier to the global cannabis market, Fluence's mission is to enable more efficient crop production for the world's top growers in both the vertical farm and greenhouse sectors. In addition to its global headquarters in Austin, Texas, Fluence has an EMEA headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. To find out more about Fluence, visit www.fluence.science.

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