On the photosynthetic responses of crops to intracanopy lighting with light emitting diodes

Key words: Cucumis sativus, intracanopy lighting, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), light distribution, light interception, light quality, photosynthesis, photosynthetic acclimation Assimilation lighting is a production factor of increasing importance in Dutch greenhouse horticulture. Assimilation lighting increases production levels, improves product quality and opens possibilities for year round production. As a drawback, this use of assimilation lighting increases energy inputs and CO2-emission. Intracanopy lighting (with LEDs) is a technique to enhance the light use efficiency by changing the position of (a part of ) the lamps from above to within the canopy of greenhouse grown crops. Intracanopy lighting (IL) firstly reduces reflection and transmission losses of the supplemental lighting on crop level. These losses are high in traditional top-lighting systems, hence IL yields a higher light absorption on crop level. Secondly, IL creates a more homogenous vertical light distribution which can result in higher light use efficiencies. The aim of present study was to obtain insights in photosynthetic acclimation in response to irradiance level and spectrum in the framework of the applicability of LEDs as light source for intracanopy lighting in indeterminate growing vegetable crops. Intracanopy lighting may vary in (1) position within the crop, in (2) irradiance level and in (3) spectrum. Leaves deeper in the canopy are older. If leaf age negatively affects the photosynthetic capacity (Amax), then potential positions of IL-lamps reduce. By growing tomato plants horizontally so that irradiance was similar for all leaves from 0-70 days old, it is concluded that during the normal life-span of tomato leaves in cultivation, irradiance and not ageing is the most important factor affecting Amax. In winter, natural irradiances are low so that new developing leaves acclimate to low irradiances. Later on in their life time these leaves could be exposed to higher irradiances owing to IL. The question arose if cucumber leaves which develop under low irradiance can acclimate to a moderate irradiance. Acclimation of photosynthesis occurred within 7 days but photosynthesis at moderate irradiance and Amax did not reach to that of leaves developed under moderate irradiance. This reveals the importance of photosynthetic acclimation during the leaf developmental phase for crop productivity in scenarios with realistic, moderate fluctuations in irradiance that leaves can be exposed to. By growing plants under seven different combinations of red and blue light, blue light is shown to have both a qualitative and a quantitative effect on leaf development. Only leaves developed under red light (0% blue) displayed a dysfunctional photosynthetic operation (“red light syndrome”), which was largely alleviated by only 7% blue. Quantitatively, leaf responses to an increasing blue light percentage resembled responses associated with an increase in irradiance. Leaves developed under red light exposed to a mixture of red and blue (RB) completely recovered within 4 days after exposure to RB-light but remained limited in other leaf parameters, showing limitations in plasticity due to constraints arising from the prior leaf development. Leaves developed under RB also revealed the “red light syndrome” within 7 days of red illumination. Lastly, the effects of intracanopy lighting with LEDs on the production and development of a cucumber crop was investigated in winter. In the IL-treatment, LEDs supplied 38% of the supplemental irradiance within the canopy; the remaining 62% was supplied as top lighting by High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps. The control was 100% top lighting (HPS lamps). Intracanopy lighting resulted in a greater Amax for leaves at deeper canopy layers but did not increase total biomass or fruit production. This was partly due to a reduced light interception caused by extreme leaf curling, which counteracted the expected higher light absorption by the crop, and partly to a lower dry matter partitioning to the fruits, and thus a greater dry matter partitioning to the leaves compared to the control. The effect of these factors on fruit yield was quantified using a explanatory crop model. Model calculations revealed a large negative effect on the fruit yield due to the greater partitioning to the leaves, whereas the negative effect of leaf curling was small. The effect of a greater Amax at deeper canopy layers was slightly positive. The last however might have indirectly caused the greater partitioning to the leaves as the greater Amax was associated with a preserved leaf mass per area. </p

Haalbaarheid van LED-tussenbelichting bij roos: praktijkonderzoek op Marjoland

Doelstelling van dit onderzoek is een mechanische aanpk van tussenbelichting bij roos, waarbij onderscheid werd gemaakt tussen groeilicht-, stuurlicht- en temperastuureffecten binnen een gewas

Global large carnivore conservation and international law

International cooperation, including through international legal instruments, appears important for the conservation of large carnivores worldwide. This is due to, inter alia, the worrying conservation status and population trends of many large carnivore species; the importance of large carnivores for biodiversity conservation at large; their occurrence at low densities, with many populations extending across various countries; and the international nature of particular threats. For the 31 heaviest species in the order Carnivora, this study (i) documents to what extent existing international legal instruments contribute to large carnivore conservation, and (ii) identifies ways of optimizing their contribution in this regard. From this dual perspective, it reviews all global wildlife conservation treaties—Ramsar Wetlands Convention, World Heritage Convention, Convention on Trade in Endangered Species, Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)—and selected regional instruments, using standard international law research methodology. Results indicate that a substantial body of relevant international law already exists, whereas simultaneously there is clear potential for enhancing the contribution of international law to large carnivore conservation. Avenues for pursuing this include promotion of instruments’ effective implementation; clarification of their precise implications for large carnivore conservation; development of formal guidance; expansion of instruments’ scope in terms of species, sites and countries; and creation of new instruments. The CMS and CBD hold particular potential in some of these respects. The experiences being gained under European legal instruments constitute an interesting ‘laboratory’ regarding human coexistence with expanding large carnivore populations and transboundary cooperation at the (sub)population level

Hybride tussenbelichting met LEDs bij komkommer : Productie, lichtonderschepping, fotosynthese en ontwikkeling vergeleken met conventionele SON-T topbelichting

Bij Wageningen Universiteit zijn de effecten van hybride tussenbelichting (SON-T boven, LED’s tussen het gewas) op de productie van komkommer onderzocht. De verwachting was een 20% hogere energie-efficientie. Er werden gelijktijdig uitgebreide metingen gedaan verklarende factoren, w.o. lichtonderschepping, bladfotosynthese, droge stof verdeling en ontwikkelingssnelheid van het gewas. Hybride tussenbelichting (60% boven, 40% tussen het gewas) werd vergeleken met conventionele topbelichting (100% boven het gewas)

Finding the optimal growth-light spectrum for greenhouse crops

Abstract: Especially in an open crop (e.g., young plants) morphological responses to light quality can affect light interception, crop photosynthesis and growth. Earlier work showed a substantial morphology related biomass increase for young cucumber plants grown under 100% artificial sunlight (ASL) compared with 100% high pressure sodium light (HPS). Here, ASL is used to investigate the effect of HPS and LEDs compared with ASL, when applied supplemental to an ASL background. Tomato plants were grown in a climate room under 17 h ASL (50% of in total 200 µmol PAR m-2 s-1) supplemented with 50% HPS, light emitting diodes LEDs (red/blue), or ASL. The 100% ASL-grown plants produced 32-45% more dry weight, due to a more efficient light interception. As ASL lamps are not energy-efficient enough for commercial production we tried to simplify the solar spectrum while retaining enhanced crop productivity in greenhouses. Red/blue/far-red LEDs, at a ratio inducing the same phytochrome photostationary state (PSS) as natural sunlight, and sulphur-plasma lamps, emitting a continuous spectrum in the PAR-region, were tested and compared with supplemental red/blue LEDs, HPS and ASL in a greenhouse experiment. Red/blue/far-red LEDs resulted in a visual appearance similar to the ASL-plants, while red/blue LEDs produced the most compact morphology. Red/blue/far-red LEDs enhanced dry weight for cucumber (+21%) and tomato (+15%) compared with HPS. Dry weight and compactness were intermediate for sulphur-plasma. The differences were attributable to effects of leaf orientation and positioning on light interception, and not to photosynthesis per unit leaf area. The PSS appears to be a key-factor to control crop morphology, providing a tool to induce ‘sunlight’ crop characteristics to enhance productivity

Spruitje, boompje, beestje. Ontwerp en analyse van een intersectoraal systeem van biologische vollegrondsgroenteteelt en boomteelt

Het nieuwe intersectorale systeem dat in deze studie uitgewerkt is, is een combinatie van biologische vollegrondsgroenteteelt en biologische boomteelt op klei in Zuid-West Nederland. In deze combinatie is vollegrondsgroenteteelt de probleemteelt. Er zijn problemen met ziekten en plagen en met nutriënten. In deze studie is onderzocht of biologische boomteelt, in een mengteeltsysteem met biologische vollegrondsgroenteelt, kansen biedt om deze problemen op te lossen. Ook de knelpunten van zo’n intersectoraal systeem zijn onderzocht. De prioriteit van dit onderzoek ligt bij ziekten en plage

Electronic and optical properties of electromigrated molecular junctions

Electromigrated nanoscale junctions have proven very useful for studying electronic transport at the single-molecule scale. However, confirming that conduction is through precisely the molecule of interest and not some contaminant or metal nanoparticle has remained a persistent challenge, typically requiring a statistical analysis of many devices. We review how transport mechanisms in both purely electronic and optical measurements can be used to infer information about the nanoscale junction configuration. The electronic response to optical excitation is particularly revealing. We briefly discuss surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy on such junctions, and present new results showing that currents due to optical rectification can provide a means of estimating the local electric field at the junction due to illumination.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, invited paper for forthcoming special issue of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter. For other related papers, see http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~natelson/publications.htm

Use of voltammetric solid-state (micro)electrodes for studying biogeochemical processes: Laboratory measurements to real time measurements with an in situ electrochemical analyzer (ISEA)

Solid-state voltammetric (micro)electrodes have been used in a variety of environments to study biogeochemical processes. Here we show the wealth of information that has been obtained in the study of sediments, microbial mats, cultures and the water column including hydrothermal vents. Voltammetric analyzers have been developed to function with operator guidance and in unattended mode for temporal studies with an in situ electrochemical analyzer (ISEA). The electrodes can detect the presence (or absence) of a host of redox species and trace metals simultaneously. The multi-species capacity of the voltammetric electrode can be used to examine complex heterogeneous environments such as the root zone of salt marsh sediments. The data obtained with these systems clearly show that O2 and Mn2+ profiles in marine sedimentary porewaters and in microbial biofilms on metal surfaces rarely overlap indicating that O2 is not a direct oxidant for Mn2+. This lack of overlap was suggested originally by Joris Gieskes\u27 group. In waters emanating from hydrothermal vents, Fe2+, H2S and soluble molecular FeS clusters (FeSaq) are detected indicating that the reactants for the pyrite formation reaction are H2S and soluble molecular FeS clusters. Using the ISEA with electrodes at fixed positions, data collected continuously over three days near a Riftia pachyptila tubeworm field generally show that O2 and H2S anti-correlate and that H2S and temperature generally correlate. Unlike sedimentary environments, the data clearly show that Riftia live in areas where both O2 and H2S co-exist so that its endosymbiont bacteria can perform chemosynthesis. However, physical mixing of diffuse flow vent waters with oceanic bottom waters above or to the side of the tubeworm field can dampen these correlations or even reverse them. Voltammetry is a powerful technique because it provides chemical speciation data (e.g.; oxidation state and different elemental compounds/ions) as well as quantitative data. Because (micro)organisms occupy environmental niches due to the system\u27s chemistry, it is necessary to know chemical speciation. Voltammetric methods allow us to study how chemistry drives biology and how biology can affect chemistry for its own benefit

Belichting, CO2 en stuurlicht in de lelieteelt: een strategie voor energiebesparing

In de lelieteelt wordt langdurig belicht met een aanzienlijke intensiteit SON-T licht (6000-8000 lux ofwel ~78-104 μmol/m2s). Dit heeft een fors energieverbruik tot gevolg. Het doel van de belichting is (1) zwaardere takken, (2) remming van takstrekking (voorkomen slapheid), (3) verkorting van de teeltduur en (4) voorkomen van knopval en knopverdroging. CO2 dosering wordt niet toegepast in de lelieteelt. Eerder onderzoek van PPO heeft namelijk aangetoond dat CO2-dosering geen effect heeft op het takgewicht van Oriëntal-lelies en slechts een klein effect bij Longiflorums, Aziaten en LA-hybriden. Recent onderzoek door Plant Lighting en Plant Dynamics heeft echter aangetoond dat de fotosynthese van Oriëntals flink toeneemt bij aanvullend CO2. Dit is een schijnbare tegenstelling: Wel meer fotosynthese, maar niet meer takgewicht. Echter, mogelijk heeft lelie slechts een beperkte hoeveelheid assimilaten nodig voor een maximaal takgewicht en gaan extra aangemaakte assimilaten naar de bol. Als dat zo is, dan heeft CO2 dosering inderdaad geen zin bij voldoende belichting, maar wél bij lagere lichtniveaus. Daarom ligt aan dit onderzoek de volgende hoofdhypothese ten grondslag: Bij een suboptimale intensiteit belichting kan met CO2 dosering eenzelfde takgewicht gerealiseerd worden als bij een optimale lichtintensiteit zonder CO2 dosering