Advancements in science and technology have led to progress in the agricultural sectors worldwide, especially with the introduction of new LED grow lights.
And indoor farming has not been left behind as scientists look for more efficient crop growth methods.
If you have an indoor farm and are incurring massive electrical and labor bills, it’s time to consider efficiency over volume.
And one way of doing so is by acquiring new LED grow lights with better light precision and smart technology integration, among others.
Today’s article delves into the advancements in new LED grow lights and how you can optimize your plant yield. Read on.
Introducing the Latest LED Grow Light Technologies
(Renewable green energy concept for growing crops)
The fact that we have less agricultural land left with the ever-growing population means there’s a need for more efficient farming practices.
Here, we look at the latest LED grow light technologies you can employ on your indoor farm.
High-Efficiency LEDs
An area that’s constantly improving is the LED grow light efficiency. Traditionally, LED grow lights produce a lot of PPFD at the center before fading off towards the edges.
Consequently, a farmer has to calculate how much the lights must overlap to provide suitable wavelengths to the plants.
For instance, some current high-efficiency LEDs provide between 1,500 to 2,000 PPFD across the coverage.
They are advantageous since you can hang them higher above your crops, making working on the plants easier.
Full-Spectrum LEDs
The full-spectrum LEDs mimic natural sunlight, providing a wide range of wavelengths sufficient to grow a plant from seed to fruiting.
Generally, older LED grow lights provide a specific wavelength, and you would change the lights at various plant growth stages.
Consequently, they are more labor-intensive and inappropriate for large indoor farms.
Tunable Spectrum LEDs
Tunable spectrum LED grow lights offer adjustable light spectrums that benefit farmers growing various crops in the same place.
Additionally, they benefit researchers as they can fine-tune the lighting conditions based on specific plant requirements.
Smart Lighting Controls
Many modern LED grow lights have built-in features with smart technology compatibility.
For instance, some have timers, dimmers, and programmable settings that allow better precision when it comes to managing light cycles.
Moreover, they allow greater control of spectral output and intensity to mimic natural daylight patterns.
Wireless Connectivity and IoT Integration
(An IoT concept to control multiple systems with a phone)
Manufacturers are also working on LED grow lights with wireless connectivity and IoT integration.
In other words, the lights enable farmers to monitor their plants and control lighting parameters remotely using smartphones or computers.
Consequently, they have precise environmental control without being on the farm.
Improved Heat Management
An issue with high-performance LED grow lights is heat management. As much as LED grow lights produce less energy than traditional light sources, managing heat is important for their longevity.
Therefore, modern LEDs come with advanced cooling systems, including liquid cooling and passive heat sinks.
Quantum Board Technology
Quantum board technology is not new in the field of indoor farming, and LED grow lights.
In fact, there’s massive research by scientists to develop lights delivering even light distribution across the board.
Additionally, they are getting more efficient at maintaining a high light output when you need them to.
Ultraviolet and Far-Red LEDs
Research into the importance of UV light in plant growth is still ongoing as scientists hope to improve plant growth.
As of today, there’s a belief that both the UV and far-red lights can influence growth in certain plants.
Consequently, we see more research into lights that enhance specific plant characteristics, including shorter flowering times.
Modular and Expandable Systems
Some LED grows lights allow farmers to connect multiple units to expand coverage and light distribution.
Moreover, the lights’ flexibility enables customization and scalability to accommodate multiple farm layouts.
How New LED Grow Lights Optimize Plant Growth
(Lettuce plants growing under new LED grow lights)
As scientists work on better ways to improve plant growth, LED grow light manufacturers are working on developing better lights.
First, new LED grows lights are customizable, enabling farmers to tailor the spectrum to suit certain plant growth stages.
Consequently, they don’t have to buy blue light for vegetative growth or red light for flowering.
Second, modern LED grow lights have better energy efficiency converting a higher percentage of electrical energy to usable light.
Therefore, they are more environmentally friendly and cheaper to operate.
Third, new LED lights partner with smart technologies to emit light directionally to where a grower needs them to be.
As a result, there’s little wastage as plants receive all the light they need.
Energy-Saving Features of the Newest LED Grow Lights
(Energy efficiency chart)
One area that indoor growers find challenging is reducing the power consumption of LED grow lights.
As much as they are more efficient than traditional grow lights, the poor configuration of the lights leads to a waste of energy.
Here are some energy-saving features of modern LED grow lights.
- High-efficiency – Modern LEDs convert a higher percentage of electrical energy to usable light that promotes plant growth.
- Optimal light spectrum – New LED lights partner with IoT and other smart technologies, allowing remote light spectral tailoring to match plant growth.
- Programmable settings – You can program modern LED grow lights to match the light patterns of the sun. Consequently, growers can dim their lights at night, saving energy.
- Precision light distribution – Modern LED grow lights emit directional light onto a plant eliminating the need for additional lenses or reflectors. Additionally, they reduce light loss from the source to the plants.
- Sensors and smart controls – some LED grow light has smart controls that monitor environmental conditions like temperature. They then reduce or increase their light output to ensure the plants grow at the right temperature.
FAQs
What color of LED is best for plant growth?
Generally, the best lights for growing plants blend blue and red light in massive amounts.
Additionally, they have a green light in small amounts and infrared light in the range of 730 nm or thereabouts.
More specifically, a light in the range of 400 to 520 nm (violet-blue) promotes growth, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll absorption.
On the other hand, a red light ranging from 610 to 720 nm promotes flowering and budding in most plants.
What LED lights are best for growing?
You must consider several factors before determining the best plant LED grow light.
Generally, manufacturers provide product specifications that guide growers on the quality of light they are getting.
If you don’t find a guide, then the best lights for growing your plants are the full-spectrum LED grow light mimicking natural sunlight.
Their wavelength range stretches all the way from UV to IR, meaning that all a grower needs to do is turn on the lights.
Moreover, you can look for additional features, including:
- Chip on board LED grow light.
- Quantum board LED grow light.
- And adjustable spectrum LEDs.
Do LEDs grow lights generate excessive heat?
Typical LED grows lights emit less heat than other light sources to grow your plants.
Generally, they generate heat on the diodes’ backside that’s easily transferable to a cooling system for efficient heat dissipation.
However, high-power LED grows lights can produce massive amounts of heat without proper dissipation.
Additionally, the quality of the lights can influence how efficient they are at generating less heat or dissipating excess.
Conclusion
If you are an indoor grower, you must be well aware of the shortcomings of traditional light sources.
More specifically, they have a high energy consumption, less efficiency, and shorter lifespans.
For a better farming experience, try new LEDs grow lights, as they are improved versions ensuring better yields and savings.
Moreover, they are less labor-intensive when you partner them with smart technologies and controls.