Influence of light parameters on the cultivation of oil radish microgreens

Abstract

Relevance. The technology of growing microgreens of individual vegetables had been previously studied in literature. However, the issues of the influence of light parameters on the cultivation of oil radish microgreens have not been studied enough.Methods. The model crop was oil radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleifera Metzg., variety Tambovchanka). Water was used as a substrate. With the use of LED lamps in the cultivation of oil radish microgreens, 4 series of experiments were carried out in March and October. All experiments were carried out in 4 replications. Seed weight — 5g per container with an area of 144 cm2. Weight of 1000 seeds — 14 g, seed germination — 96%. The average daily temperature for growing oilradish was 25 °C. Phytolamps of the laboratory "Intellect" ( Tula) include 72 pairs of LEDs in 2 versions: 1) 3 red, 1 blue (54 pairs of red, 18 pairs of blue); 2) 7 red, 1 blue (63 pairs of red, 9 pairs of blue). Phytolamps were turned on for 12 hours. The average level of illumination is 2700–2800 lux, the level of PAR is 42 µmol/(m2·s).Results. In spring, with an increase in the length of daylight hours, the indicators of the number and mass of seedlings of oil radish microgreens increase. In autumn, the number and weight of seedlings grown in daylight (with and without additional lighting by phytolamps) is affected by the number of sunny days. Additional lighting with phytolamps increases the mass of seedlings if the values of the parameters of the leading environmental factors are in the optimum zone. The ratio of red and blue LEDs 3:1 (54 pairs of red LEDs and 18 pairs of blue LEDs) was optimal for the development oil radish seedlings in spring and autumn. Additional lighting with phytolamps of 7:1 ratio practically did not affect the growth of seedlings in both terms of the experiment in 2020. This is due to the fact that in the early stages of development plants require more blue light.