Category: Lighting

What You Can’t See Can Hurt You and Your Bumblebees!

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud

The Importance of Monitoring Natural UV Light Levels in Your Greenhouse

Authors: Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud1, Sharon Kitur1, and Dr. Caroline Strang2

1 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), Harrow, Ontario

2 Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario

Summary

Most Ontario greenhouse producers monitor light levels outside and inside their greenhouses to optimize their growing conditions for maximum yield. This article discusses how ultraviolet (UV) light levels inside greenhouses are affected by greenhouse coverings, and how this may impact bumblebees used for pollination of many greenhouse fruit and vegetable crops. It demonstrates how monitoring natural UV light levels inside greenhouses can benefit producers and allow them to make more informed decisions about their production practices.

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GrowON presents: How to Use Light Spectral Combinations to Steer Plants

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud

Exciting new research from Dr. Youbin Zheng (University of Guelph) explores how plants respond to different light spectra and spectral combinations.

This GrowON talk was on July 22nd 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST in-person at Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) and online.

Learn more about how to apply spectral variations to a diverse set of crops by accessing the recording and presentation files below.

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Effect of Light Abatement Curtains on the Greenhouse Environment

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud1 Comment

Information on how light abatement curtains can be used and their effect on the greenhouse environment.

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Finding the Right Light Recipe

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud

Review of recent greenhouse vegetable lighting research at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Harrow Research and Development Centre

Photo: LED inter-lighting in low-wire mini-cucumbers.

Authors: Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) and Dr. Xiuming Hao (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Table of Contents:

  1. Summary and Conclusions
  2. Introduction
  3. Mini-Cucumbers, Overhead HPS, and LED Inter-lighting
  4. Tomatoes, HPS, and Far-Red Light
  5. Peppers, HPS, LED, and Far-Red Light
  6. Dynamic, Long Photoperiod, Low Intensity Lighting of Tomatoes, Mini-Cucumbers, Peppers, and Microgreens
  7. References

Summary and Conclusions

The market demand for locally-grown fruits and vegetables year-round has driven adoption of lighting technologies for winter food production in greenhouses and vertical farms in Ontario. Here, we review some of the lighting research conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Harrow Research and Development Centre (Harrow, Ontario) over the past several years.

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GrowON Lunch and Learn: Dynamic LED Lighting and the Circadian Rhythm

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud

Access the recording and presentation from the GrowON lunch and learn that occurred on May 12, 2023 (12:00-1:00 PM EST) in person and online to learn about the effect of dynamic LED lighting on the circadian rhythm of crops.

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GrowON Lunch and Learn: Autonomous Greenhouse – Improving Production and Sustainability

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud1 Comment

Enjoy this recording of the GrowON lunch and learn that took place in person at Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers and online (March 20, 2023) and learn more about autonomous growing technologies.

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Managing Nighttime Greenhouse Light Emissions

Published on by Fadi Al-Daoud
Nighttime greenhouse light emissions. Photo credit – Benjamin Snow, University of Guelph.

Author: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)

An increase in the use of supplemental lighting in greenhouses has been accompanied with an increase in the amount of light emitted from greenhouses at night during fall and winter months. Without proper management strategies, light emitted from greenhouses during nighttime hours can potentially be disruptive to neighbouring residents. As a result, the objective of this document is to outline the latest research in greenhouse light management for producers and to provide information on managing nuisance complaints should they arise.

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