Intracanopy lighting of cowpea canopies in controlled environments.
Traditional designs for plant-growth lighting in space life support systems irradiate tops of closed foliar canopies while canopy understories are light limited. "Intracanopy lighting," a technique whereby plants are allowed to grow up and around multiple layers of low-intensity lamps that irradiate interior portions of canopies, can potentially enhance productivity while reducing overall energy consumption. Intracanopy lighting of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) was optimized by varying stand densities and lining growth compartments with light-scattering or reflective films. Yield rates using intracanopy lighting were less than those obtained with traditional lighting strategies. However, yield efficiencies and energetic conversion efficiencies, parameters that put edible yield in terms of inedible biomass, energetic, spatial, and temporal penalties, indicate intracanopy lighting is more efficient in crop production. Single-leaf photosynthetic rates indicate all leaves participate in net carbon gain regardless of age and position within a canopy.
Frantz
J M
JM
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1165, USA.
Chun
C
C
Joly
R J
RJ
Mitchell
C A
CA
D018533:Biomass; D018504:Ecological Systems, Closed; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008021:Life Support Systems / Q000295:instrumentation; D008027:Light; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017785:Photons; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal