LED lights to increase pepper yields under saline irrigation conditions

Agricultural researchers from the UPCT have created a portable prototype of LED lights that combines different wavelengths for use in greenhouse crops. Their goal is to study the effect that the application of light pulses in certain phenological stages has on plants, especially when they're irrigated with low-quality water with a high percentage of salinity.

Researchers chose to carry out their test on pepper crops, as previously demonstrated the effectiveness of the treatment on young seedlings. "We observed an increase in production in the test subjects compared to the control plants that were not treated with LED light under saline irrigation conditions," stated the head of the project, María del Carmen Martínez Ballesta.

The project aims to create a prototype of mobile LED radiation and light measurement equipment, with an adjustable and articulated arm for the application of light both with zenithal orientation and in the canopy and with sufficient autonomy to be used by nurserymen and farmers. The versatility of this project lies in its autonomy and design with this adjustable arm, and the wide spectrum of LED luminaires.

"Our next challenges are adjusting the protocol of use in terms of the time of application of the lights, and improving the prototype/robot so that it is autonomous," the lead stated.

The project has been supported by the Seneca Foundation within its Proof of Concept grants until the end of this year, with an endowment of 30,000 euros. "The funding from the Seneca Foundation allows us to materialize and apply part of our research in this marketable prototype," María del Carmen Martínez stated.

The research team of the "Design of a mobile LED radiation and light measurement equipment (EM-RM-LED) and its implementation to reduce the adverse effects of salt stress in nurseries and greenhouses" includes researchers Cristóbal Solano, Jesús Ochoa, Juan Antonio-Fernández, Juan Antonio Ochoa, and collaborating researchers José Antonio Franco-Leemhuis and Sebastián Bañón. The lighting company Secom, located in Molina de Segura, which is interested in promoting the use of artificial light in the agricultural sector, is also taking part in it.

Source: www.upct.es