Understanding Light: Part 1 of two articles discusses the differences between photoperiodic and supplemental lighting

摘要

In commercial greenhouses, photoperiodic and supplemental lighting are two lighting strategies that can be used to help properly manage light levels throughout the day and seasonally. Some of the primary reasons why greenhouses manipulate light levelsinclude temperature and irrigation management, to promote or inhibit flowering, and to optimize photosynthesis.However, a recent survey found that 47% of greenhouse growers don't understand the difference between photoperiodic and supplemental lighting. To add to the confusion, the greenhouse industry uses a lot of jargon when referring to these two different lighting strategies. In this two-part series, we'll shed some light (pun intended) on the appropriate use of each lighting strategy. We'll begin by talking about supplemental lighting, which is sometimes referred to as "photosynthetic" or "assimilation" lighting. In next month's article, we'll discuss photoperiodic lighting.