Introduction to LED Based Plant Growth Comparison to HPS and
Incandescent Lighting
Incandescent Lighting
SolarOasis Research Labs White Paper, 2007
First, a little history lesson on lighting. PAR and PAR watts
are terms associated with "white light" based products such as
fluorescent, HID, HPS, MH, and incandescent. Before
SolarOasis introduced LEDs to the grower in 2002 (SolarOasis
holds the first patent for a consumer LED technology grow light,
US #6,921,182 with seven patents pending), all measurements
of light energy were based on white light products. However,
white light products produce a lot more energy than plants can
use. A typical white light product produces light wavelengths
from 380 nm (UV) up to and beyond 880nm (IR). Plants, on the
other hand, primarily use light wavelengths from 400nm (blue)
to 700nm (red). This range of light wavelengths has been l
abeled PAR or Photosynthetically Active Radiation. On average, nearly 82% of a traditional white light product's light
energy is of little benefit to plant growth, and in most cases is harmful to plant health. In a typical HID, HPS, or MH light
bulb this harmful energy is in the form of intense heat (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation that you cannot see but can
certainly feel.
So scientists decided to develop a standard, just for plant growth. Using just the light wavelengths beneficial to plant
growth and health, scientists found that light from 400 nm to 700 nm promoted healthy plants (PAR). In 2002
SolarOasis introduces the first LED based plant grow light for consumers. Unlike previous laboratory LED growing
products, this product uses specific light wavelengths that target plant growth, health, smell, and taste as well.
Producing only light which is beneficial to plants and 100% usable by the plants.
Why can't I use a PAR meter to compare light emitted from a white light product versus a SolarOasis LED product?
This will not work, because PAR meters do not differentiate, or weigh, light wavelengths based on plant absorption.
Traditional lights were manufactured to "light" rooms and warehouses, not grow plants. This meant that the light
needed to address the peak wavelengths of the human eye, primarily yellow and green, which is perceived by the
human eye as "white" light. Modern white lights for plant growth are little more than factory lighting with a small amount
of impurities added to throw out a few spikes of "color". Plants grow, but only because of the nature and the brute
force of many watts of power.
Plants do not use all of the PAR wavelengths equally. Some light wavelengths, such as blue and red are at the
peaks of plant light absorption. While others, especially those "white light" components are at the bottom of the plant
wavelength absorption. Plants cast off white light for the most part. This is why the leaves of most plants look green
(or yellow if the plant is not happy!). Most of the "white light" is reflected by the plant and not absorbed.
In summary, PAR meters include "all" light wavelengths in the PAR spectrum regardless of value to plant absorption
and growth. This use to work just fine, as consumers did not have any choice other than traditional white lights. You
just purchased a light bulb and plugged it in. If the bulb were big enough (watts of power used from the wall socket),
and close enough (without burning the plant to ash), your plants would grow.
SolarOasis LED based grow lights produce only light that plants can use for growth, health, smell, and taste. Special
note, the light wavelengths emitted by SolarOasis light bars does not attract bugs and pests to your plants. This can
be a real advantage to the organic farmer. Currently the best light energy measurement for SolarOasis LED plant grow
lights is microEinsteins commonly written as uMols of energy. However, this measurement must also be weighted by
wavelength in th PAR spectrum based on published plant absorption curves before a true comparison between
traditional and LED based grow lights can be made.
Measuring equipment corrections must also be made when measuring LED based grow lights. The quantum sensors
commonly used to measure light output, such as the Li-Cor and Skye product lines, are known to be very inaccurate at
measuring light output from LED arrays (See Accuracy of quantum sensors measuring yield photon flux and
photosynthetic photon flux. Barnes C, Tibbitts T, Sager J, Deitzer G, Bebenheim D, Koemer G, Bugbee B. Department
of Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology, Utah State University, Logan 84322-4820).
By weighing output wavelengths according to their relative ability to promote photosynthesis (KJ McCree, The action
spectrum, absorbance and quantum yield of photosynthesis in crop plants. Agricultural Meteorology, 1971/72, Vol 9,
pp191-216) LED grow lamp light emissions can be better compared to traditional plant grow lights. Without weighting
by wavelength, a very, very rough estimate is to compare the uMol output of a traditional white light at proper growing
distance from the plant, to the uMol output of the SolarOasis grow bar times a factor of 5.5 to compensate for plant
targeted light emissions versus general PAR emissions. This still doesn't account for the inaccuracy of quantum
sensors when used to measure artificial light sources, especially LED artificial light sources, but it does give some
comparison.
In summary, the true value of any light source for growing plants is based on the user's desired results. In today's
energy and environmentally aware world one must consider not only the need to grow plants, but the impact of energy
use, light pollution, and expended waste hazards. SolarOasis LED grow lights use little energy, produce zero white light
pollution, and do not contain lead or mercury. The perfect choice for true "green" growing, using sun or wind stored
power.
First, a little history lesson on lighting. PAR and PAR watts
are terms associated with "white light" based products such as
fluorescent, HID, HPS, MH, and incandescent. Before
SolarOasis introduced LEDs to the grower in 2002 (SolarOasis
holds the first patent for a consumer LED technology grow light,
US #6,921,182 with seven patents pending), all measurements
of light energy were based on white light products. However,
white light products produce a lot more energy than plants can
use. A typical white light product produces light wavelengths
from 380 nm (UV) up to and beyond 880nm (IR). Plants, on the
other hand, primarily use light wavelengths from 400nm (blue)
to 700nm (red). This range of light wavelengths has been l
abeled PAR or Photosynthetically Active Radiation. On average, nearly 82% of a traditional white light product's light
energy is of little benefit to plant growth, and in most cases is harmful to plant health. In a typical HID, HPS, or MH light
bulb this harmful energy is in the form of intense heat (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation that you cannot see but can
certainly feel.
So scientists decided to develop a standard, just for plant growth. Using just the light wavelengths beneficial to plant
growth and health, scientists found that light from 400 nm to 700 nm promoted healthy plants (PAR). In 2002
SolarOasis introduces the first LED based plant grow light for consumers. Unlike previous laboratory LED growing
products, this product uses specific light wavelengths that target plant growth, health, smell, and taste as well.
Producing only light which is beneficial to plants and 100% usable by the plants.
Why can't I use a PAR meter to compare light emitted from a white light product versus a SolarOasis LED product?
This will not work, because PAR meters do not differentiate, or weigh, light wavelengths based on plant absorption.
Traditional lights were manufactured to "light" rooms and warehouses, not grow plants. This meant that the light
needed to address the peak wavelengths of the human eye, primarily yellow and green, which is perceived by the
human eye as "white" light. Modern white lights for plant growth are little more than factory lighting with a small amount
of impurities added to throw out a few spikes of "color". Plants grow, but only because of the nature and the brute
force of many watts of power.
Plants do not use all of the PAR wavelengths equally. Some light wavelengths, such as blue and red are at the
peaks of plant light absorption. While others, especially those "white light" components are at the bottom of the plant
wavelength absorption. Plants cast off white light for the most part. This is why the leaves of most plants look green
(or yellow if the plant is not happy!). Most of the "white light" is reflected by the plant and not absorbed.
In summary, PAR meters include "all" light wavelengths in the PAR spectrum regardless of value to plant absorption
and growth. This use to work just fine, as consumers did not have any choice other than traditional white lights. You
just purchased a light bulb and plugged it in. If the bulb were big enough (watts of power used from the wall socket),
and close enough (without burning the plant to ash), your plants would grow.
SolarOasis LED based grow lights produce only light that plants can use for growth, health, smell, and taste. Special
note, the light wavelengths emitted by SolarOasis light bars does not attract bugs and pests to your plants. This can
be a real advantage to the organic farmer. Currently the best light energy measurement for SolarOasis LED plant grow
lights is microEinsteins commonly written as uMols of energy. However, this measurement must also be weighted by
wavelength in th PAR spectrum based on published plant absorption curves before a true comparison between
traditional and LED based grow lights can be made.
Measuring equipment corrections must also be made when measuring LED based grow lights. The quantum sensors
commonly used to measure light output, such as the Li-Cor and Skye product lines, are known to be very inaccurate at
measuring light output from LED arrays (See Accuracy of quantum sensors measuring yield photon flux and
photosynthetic photon flux. Barnes C, Tibbitts T, Sager J, Deitzer G, Bebenheim D, Koemer G, Bugbee B. Department
of Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology, Utah State University, Logan 84322-4820).
By weighing output wavelengths according to their relative ability to promote photosynthesis (KJ McCree, The action
spectrum, absorbance and quantum yield of photosynthesis in crop plants. Agricultural Meteorology, 1971/72, Vol 9,
pp191-216) LED grow lamp light emissions can be better compared to traditional plant grow lights. Without weighting
by wavelength, a very, very rough estimate is to compare the uMol output of a traditional white light at proper growing
distance from the plant, to the uMol output of the SolarOasis grow bar times a factor of 5.5 to compensate for plant
targeted light emissions versus general PAR emissions. This still doesn't account for the inaccuracy of quantum
sensors when used to measure artificial light sources, especially LED artificial light sources, but it does give some
comparison.
In summary, the true value of any light source for growing plants is based on the user's desired results. In today's
energy and environmentally aware world one must consider not only the need to grow plants, but the impact of energy
use, light pollution, and expended waste hazards. SolarOasis LED grow lights use little energy, produce zero white light
pollution, and do not contain lead or mercury. The perfect choice for true "green" growing, using sun or wind stored
power.
| All SolarOasis products are patented, #6,921,182 and having multiple patents pending. All SolarOasis printed materials, including the electronic content of this document, are copyrighted by SolarOasis 2006. Permission to copy, reproduce, or post electronically any SolarOasis material or content in reserved. |
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Plant Lighting and IR
LED Coverage Area
Cost Comparison
Hybrid System
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Notable Clients
Testimonials
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