Light & Engineering 33 (4) 2025

Volume 33
Date of publication 08/15/2025
Pages 93–102

A Comparative Study of the Photobiological Effect of HPS Lamps and Dimmable LED Irradiators Used to Grow Tomato Vegetables under Electrical Lighting L&E, Vol.33, No.4, 2025

Articles authors:

Alexander A. Tikhomirov, Vladimir V. Velichko, Evgeniya A. Slyusareva

Alexander A. Tikhomirov, Dr. of Biological Sc., Professor. In 1970, he graduated from Krasnoyarsk State University with the major in physics and qualification of biophysicist and physicist. At present, he works at the Institute of Biophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Controlled Biosynthesis of Phototrophic Organisms, Head of the Closed Ecosystems Sub-department of the Reshetnyov Siberian State University of Science and Technology, scientific expert at SFU. His research interests: phytoactinometry, light physiology of plants, closed ecosystems

Vladimir V. Velichko, Ph. D. in Biological Sc. In 2004, he graduated from Krasnoyarsk State University with the major in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. In 2008, he was awarded the degree of the Candidate of Biological Sciences, specialty 03.00.12 – plant physiology and biochemistry. At present, he works at the Institute of Biophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Senior researcher of the Laboratory of Controlled Biosynthesis of Phototrophic Organisms. Since 2019, he is the Assistant Professor at the Closed Ecosystems Department of the M.F. Reshetnyov Siberian State University of Science and Technology. His research interests: photosynthesis and productivity of higher plants as phototrophic compartment of artificial ecosystems, effect of light conditions and mineral nutrition on growth and development of higher plants

Evgeniya A. Slyusareva, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, specialty 01.04.05 “Optics”, Professor. In 1993, she graduated from Krasnoyarsk State University with a degree in Physics. She works at the Siberian Federal University as a Professor of the Basic Department of Photonics and Laser Technologies, Deputy Director for Research of the Institute of Engineering Physics and Radioelectronics. Her research interests: photonics of functional luminescent materials, optical spectroscopy

Abstract:

The paper reports an experimental photobiological study estimating the effectiveness of different spectral modes of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) for cultivating tomato vegetables using LED irradiators as electrical grow lighting. Variety of Tomato cv. Katya F1 was used in the study. The purpose of the study was to compare the photobiological efficiency of radiation from dimmable LED irradiators with an adjustable spectrum and high-pressure sodium lamps (DNaT‑600).
PAR irradiance at the upper leaf level was maintained constant in the treatment (using LED) and control (using DNaT‑600) and was (425 ± 15) μmol/(m2·s). Energy consumption was measured using electronic electricity meters separately for the control and treatment part of experiment. The characteristics of plant growth and development were recorded throughout the experiment. The tomatoes were analysed for nitrate, sugar, and vitamin C contents.
The study showed that during the growing period of 80 days, a twofold saving in energy consumption was achieved in the treatments with LEDs compared to the control. At the same time, the yield of vegetables per illuminated area in the control was 63.9 kg, which exceeded the average values of this parameter in the treatments by 1.4 times. Taking into account the consumed electricity, the cost of the tomatoes produced in the treatment was lower by 38 % and amounted to 42.2 kW·h and in the control to 58.1 kW·h per one kg of tomatoes. The assumption is substantiated that the reasons for differences in tomato yields may be associated, first of all, with different qualitative and quantitative characteristics of infrared radiation in LED irradiators and sodium lamps. Ways to improve LED irradiators to increase the photobiological efficiency of their radiation are outlined.

References:

1. Tikhomirov, A.A., Lisovsky, G.M., Sidko, F. Ya. Spectral composition of light and plant productivity [Spektral’nyy sostav sveta i produktivnost’ rasteniy] / Novosibirsk: Nauka. Siberian Branch, 1991, 168 p.
2. Prikupets, L.B., Tikhomirov, A.A. Optimization of the radiation spectrum for growing vegetables under electrical grow lights [Optimizatsiya spektra izlucheniya dlya vyrashchivaniya ovoshchey pod elektricheskimi lampami] // Svetotekhnika, 1992, # 3, pp. 5–7.
3. Bantis, F., Smirnakou, S., Ouzounis, T., Koukounaras, A., Ntagkas, N., Radoglou, K. Current status and recent achievements in the field of horticulture with the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) // Sci. Hortic. 2018, Vol. 235, pp. 437–451, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.02.058.
4. Prikupets, L.B. Technological lighting in the agro-industrial complex of Russia [Tekhnologicheskoye osveshcheniye v agropromyshlennom komplekse Rossii] // Svetotekhnika, 2017, # 6, pp. 6–14.
5. Prikupets, L.B., Boos, G.V. Irradiation installations in agriculture: Manual for university students [Obluchatel’nyye ustanovki v sel’skom khozyaystve: Uchebnoye posobiye dlya studentov vuzov] / Moscow: Editorial Office of the Journal Light & Engineering / Svetotekhnika, 2023, 136 p.
6. Morrow, R.C. LED Lighting in Horticulture // Hortscience, 2008, Vol. 43, pp. 1947–1950, https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.7.1947.
7. Katzin, D., Marcelis, L.F.M., Mourik van S. Energy savings in greenhouses by transition from high-pressure sodium to LED lighting // Applied Energy, 2021, Vol. 281, # 116019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116019.
8. Ahamed, M.S., Guo, H., Tanino, K. Energy saving techniques for reducing the heating cost of conventional greenhouses // Biosystems Engineering, 2019, Vol. 178, pp. 9–33, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2018.10.017.
9. Nelson, J.A., Bugbee, B. Analysis of environmental effects on leaf temperature under sunlight, high pressure sodium and light emitting diodes // PloS One, 2015, # 10(10): e0138930, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0138930.
10. Katzin, D., Mourik van S., Kempkes, F., Henten van E.J. GreenLight – an open source model for greenhouses with supplemental lighting: Evaluation of heat requirements under LED and HPS lamps // Biosystems Engineering, 2020, Vol. 194, pp. 61–81, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.03.010.
11. Kuijpers, W.J.P., Katzin, D., Mourik van S., Antunes, D.J., Hemming, S., Molengraft van de M.J.G. Lighting systems and strategies compared in an optimally controlled greenhouse // Biosystems Engineering, 2021, Vol. 202, pp. 195–216, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.12.006.
12. Tikhomirov, A.A., Ushakova, S.A., Shikhov, V.N., Shklavtsova, E.S. Conceptual approaches to selecting radiation spectrum of lamps for plant cultivation under artificial conditions [Kontseptual’nyye podkhody k vyboru spektra izlucheniya lamp dlya vyrashchivaniya rasteniy v iskusstvennykh usloviyakh] // Moscow: Editorial Office of the Journal Light & Engineering/Svetotekhnika, Special Issue, 2019, pp. 19–23.
13. Tikhomirov, A.A., Molokeev, M.S., Velichko, V.V. Use of irradiators with phosphor LEDs with an adjustable radiation spectrum for growing tomatoes for seedlings and products under electrical light [Primeneniye obluchateley s fosfornymi svetodiodami s reguliruyemym spektrom izlucheniya dlya vyrashchivaniya tomatov na rassadu i produktsiyu pri elektricheskom osveshchenii] // Light & Engineering/Svetotekhnika, 2024, # 3, pp. 4–9.
14. Standard GOST 34570–2019 “Fruits, vegetables and their processed products. Potentiometric method for determining nitrates” / Moscow: Standartinform, 2019 (in Russian).
15. Standard GOST 8756.13–87 “Processed fruit and vegetable products. Methods for determining sugars” / Moscow: Standartinform, 2010 (in Russian).
16. Druzhechkova, E.N., Velichko, N.A., Khanipova, V.A., Druzhechkov, N.K. Chemical composition of juice and pomace of fruits of common rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) [Khimicheskiy sostav soka i vyzhimok plodov ryabiny obyknovennoy] // Bulletin of KrasSAU [Vestnik KrasGAU], 2024, # 5, pp. 216–222; DOI: 10.36718/1819-4036-2024-5-216-222.
17. Kusuma, P., Swan, B., Bugbee, B. Does green really mean go? Increasing the fraction of green photons promotes growth of tomato but not lettuce or cucumber // Plants, 2021, Vol. 10, # 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040637.
18. Mansoori, M., Wu, B.S., Addo, P.W., MacPherson, S., Lefsrud, M. Growth responses of tomato plants to different wavelength ratios of amber, red, and blue light // Scientia Horticulturae, 2023, Vol. 322, # 112459; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112459.
19. Ali, A., Cavallaro, V., Santoro, P., Mori, J., Ferrante, A., Cocetta, G. Quality and physiological evaluation of tomato subjected to different supplemental lighting systems // Scientia Horticulturae, 2024, Vol. 323, # 112469; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112469.
20. Faust, J.E., Heins, R.D. Modelling leaf development of the African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.) // Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 1993, Vol. 118, # 6, pp. 747–751; DOI: 10.21273/JASHS.119.4.72.
21. Sena, S., Kumari, S., Kumar, V., Husen, A. Light emitting diode (LED) lights for the improvement of plant performance and production: a comprehensive review // Current Research in Biotechnology, 2024, Vol. 7, # 100184; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbiot.2024.100184.

Keywords

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33383/2025-013

Article in RUS:
Svetotekhnika # 3, 2025, pp. 11–17