Abstract
This study aims to optimize artificial LEDs light conditions, for “Genovese” basil germination and growth in an indoor environment suitable for horticulture. Following a previous study on the synergic effect of LEDs light and a tailored fertilizer, in this study, the effect of white LED in combination with hyper red and deep blue, as well the plants–lights distance, was correlated to 14 growth and germination parameters, such as height, number of plants, etc. A design of experiments approach was implemented, aiming to derive mathematical models with predictive power, employing a restrained number of tests. Results demonstrated that for the germination phase, it is not possible to derive reliable mathematical models because almost the same results were found for all the experiments in terms of a fruitful germination. On the contrary, for the growth phase, the statistical analysis indicates that the distance among plants and lights is the most significant parameter. Nevertheless, correlations with LED light type emerged, indicating that white LEDs should be employed only to enhance specific growth parameters (e.g., to reduce water consumption). The tailored models derived in this study can be exploited to further enhance the desired property of interest in the growth of basil in horticulture.
Highlights
The principal mechanism that drives plants germination and growth is photosynthesis, as light is the primary source of energy and the principal regulatory variable in plant’s cycle
From a general and qualitative analysis of the results, germination occurred for almost all the basil seeds and any morphological or developmental abnormalities were observed, thereafter, all the tested light conditions resulted suitable for basil growth, even if with different performances
Thereafter, independently of the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) combination, an increasing in plants height, number of leaf and leaf area can be observed by reducing placing the plants nearer to the artificial lights
Summary
The principal mechanism that drives plants germination and growth is photosynthesis, as light is the primary source of energy and the principal regulatory variable in plant’s cycle. Plant growth and morphogenesis can be controlled as desired with artificial light, and, for this reason, it has been demonstrated that the annual production capacity of plants per floor area is about 10 times higher than in the greenhouse [1]. Artificial light optimization can be beneficial for leafy greens and herbal crops that are an exceptional source of various human health-promoting macronutrients such as polyphenols, vitamins, and essential oils [5]. For this reason, for these plants, the relationship between artificial light and physiology under different light spectra and/or light intensities is attracting the interest of the more recent research [6,7]. Considering the beneficial effect on human health and nutrition, basil is considered one of the best candidates to study its potential germination and growth optimization through artificial light [10]
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