An important factor to your indoor urban farming success is your lightning. Lightning can be used to supplement sunlight or as a sole source of light, to completely replace sunlight. Some urban farmers, home growers, or professional growers choose to grow their crops in a well-lit room with a lot of windows that let through enough direct sunlight. However, on overcast days or when days get shorter, grow lights can be used to provide crops
Evidence of plant diseases exists in fossils found from 250 million years ago. Big outspreads of plant diseases have been the reason for famines and other changes in the economy of nations throughout the history of mankind. Plant diseases and pests can cause big losses, resulting in a reduction in income for growers and higher prices for consumers. Find out more about different diseases, pests, and other problems.
Leafy greens are plant leaves that we consider a vegetable. They are a great nutritional value, as they are packed with vitamins (especially vitamin K), minerals, and fiber, while low in calories and fat. Learn how you can grow your own leafy greens from your home and provide your family with these nutritious plants.
Microgreens are small vegetable greens (or baby plants) used as nutrition supplements, flavor enhancers, or as a garnish. They range in size between 2.5 to 7.6 cm (1-3 inches). They pack a lot more nutrients, vitamins, and carotenoids compared to their mature plant counterparts and are super flavorful. They can easily be grown at home. Find out more about microgreens and start growing your own ones
Efficacy Efficacy is also known as PPE, or Photosynthetic Photon Efficacy. Efficacy measures the amount of photons emitted by the grow light per input watt. You can calculate the efficacy (µmol/J) by taking the amount of PAR photon output (µmol/s) and dividing that by the input power (W). An higher efficacy means that the grow light is better at converting electrical energy (or watts) into usable photons, which are very important for photosynthesis. Color Rendering
Plant Elements Plant Pigments Plant pigments, also known as biochromes, are compounds that absorb specific light wavelengths and “give” plants, fruits, and vegetables their colors. The most common plant pigments are chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids, and betalains with chlorophyll being the most important pigment. Apart from giving color to the plant, pigments also influence photosynthesis and development. Carotenoids Carotenoids are pigments that absorb violet-green light and cause fruits and vegetables to have a red, orange, or
Nutrients Plants absorb nutrients from the soil that are essential for growth, development, and survival. These nutrients can be divided into primary (or macro), secondary, and micronutrients. Plants take in these nutrients through their roots. Some nutrients may move freely throughout the plant, while others cannot. If a nutrient can be moved, the plant will be able to provide newer parts with nutrients taken from older tissue. When the plant is unable to move nutrients
Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF) PPF is short for Photosynthetic Photon Flux. PPF is measured in micromoles per second, or µmol/s. It expresses the number of photons or total amount of PAR emitted by a light source every second. Photons are small particles that carry the electromagnetic energy of light. The PPF value says something about the total light output that can contribute to photosynthesis. PPF can be measured with a specialized instrument called an integrating
Photosynthetically Active Radiation What is light? Light can be described as electromagnetic energy or waves moving from one point to another. Each wave for a certain wavelength looks the same; it has the same beginning and ending, and the same height and width. Some wavelengths are shorter, meaning faster wave formation, while other wavelengths are longer (slower wave formation). The whole range of light wavelengths is called the light spectrum. Wavelengths are measured in nanometers
Ultraviolet (UV) Ultraviolet (UV) light falls outside the visible light range, or PAR, between 100 and 400 nanometers. This type of light can be divided into UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UVA lies between 320 – 400 nm and is also called Near UVUVB lies between 290 – 320 nm and is also called Middle UVUVC lies between 100 – 290 nm and is also called Far UV The correct implementation of Ultraviolet light can have
