New Lighting Technology #TK116

New Lighting TechnologyIvan TchakarovDirector of Growing Tue. September 20|1:30 PM - 2:45 PM|

AgendaDiscuss lighting used at Metrolina Greenhouses.Photoperiod lighting.Not all new lighting.Review some of the work we are doing on LED.

Photoperiod LightingLighting to turn short days into long daysTypically 4 hour night break (10 pm to 2 am)Why is this important?

The rise of the calibrachoa!Calibrachoa in the past several years has become one of the most important hanging baskets we do.8 year ago we grew very few. Now we are up to over 1 million plugs per year

We grow them in Baskets

We grow them in Pots

We grow them in other Pots

We grow them in other Pots

We grow a lot of calibrachoa

CalibrachoaCalibrachoa varieties are facultative long day plants Varieties are getting better and better and more day neutralHowever our first shipments are in Mid to Late February.

Metrolina: Huntersville, NC

Calibrachoa

Calibrachoa

Calibrachoa

Lighting History At Metrolina

Lighting History At Metrolina

Incadescent- 10 FC HPS-40 umol

Lighting History At Metrolina

Incadescent- 10 FC HPS-40 umol

Low light quantity

Lighting History At Metrolina

Incadescent- 10 FC HPS-40 umol

Low light quantityCravo/Cold area

Lighting History At Metrolina

Incadescent- 10 FC HPS-40 umol

Low light quantityCravo/Cold areaGreat area but filled with other spring crops

Lighting History At Metrolina

Incadescent- 10 FC HPS-40 umol

-This area originally designed for growing plug (reason for 40 umol light)-This is now a finish production area. -Do not need that much lighting now!

Lighting History At Metrolina

Incadescent- 10 FC HPS-40 umolHPS-20 umol

-Took half the lights down and moved to rest of the range to increase LD area

What about plugs?

Incadescent- 10 FC HPS-40 umolHPS-20 umol

-3 acres with 40 umol lighting for long day lighting Calibrachoa plugs

What About New Lighting?

LEDLike most of you like us have been bombarded with LED sales people

General LED Sales PitchThe general LED sales pitch is that since you can control the spectrum of light with an LED you can better control plant growth.

Dr. Eric Runkle-The Expert!http://leds.hrt.msu.edu/

Dr. Eric RunkleUsing HPS, PL, or LED as a sole source of lighting to growth the plugs.GPN Sept 2014

Dr. Eric RunkleUsing HPS, PL, or LED as a sole source of lighting to growth the plugs.

Ambient

Dr. Eric RunkleUsing HPS, PL, or LED as a sole source of lighting to growth the plugs.

Ambient Supplemented70 umol/m2/sPlasmaHPSLED

Dr. Eric RunkleUsing HPS, PL, or LED as a sole source of lighting to growth the plugs.

Supplemental lighting flowered faster than ambient. Light sources worked similarPlasmaHPSLED

LED-What we understand todayLED work as well as HPS (supplemental lighting).LED are more energy efficient than HPS on a bulb basis by far .LED are much more costly initially

LED TrialWe wanted to learn more for the future expansion and for improvements to the plug range.Most supplemental lighting benefits have been found in more northern areas in US and Europe Would we get a benefit in NC

Dr. Jim Faust

Faust- Data NC

Faust- Data+2016 NC

Material and Methods

Bacopa Bahia Lavender Blue 3Bacopa Bahia Pink Halo 3Begonia Evi Bright PinkCalibrachoa AlohaHula Hot PinkCalibrachoa AlohaKona Hot OrangeCalibrachoa AlohaKona Tiki SftPkCalibrachoa MiniFams Com Dk RedCalibrachoa Calipetite PinkCalibrachoa Calipetite WhiteCalibrachoa Calipetite YellowCalibrachoa Calipetite RedCalibrachoa Calipetite BlueCalibrachoa Lindura PurpleCalibrachoa Lindura YellowCalibrachoa MiniFams Dbl BlueCalibrachoa MiniFams Dbl Comp LemonCalibrachoa MiniFams MiniDblMgntColeus Kingswood TorchColeus Mainstreet Wall StreetColeus VinoColeus Mainstreet River WalkColeus Mainstreet Fifth AvenueColeus InfernoDahlia Dahlinova CarolinaDahlia Dahlinova AlabamaDahlia Dahlinova Carolina OrangeLobelia Hot Water BlueLobelia Hot Snow WhiteLobularia Stream WhiteLysimachia Goldi 2Osteo Margarita PurpleOsteo Margarita WhiteOsteo Ostica PineapplePetchoa SuperCal VioletPetchoa SuperCal CherryPetchoa SuperCal BluePetchoa SuperCal Artist RosePetchoa SuperCal Light YellowPetunia Ctg Good n Plenty OrangePetunia Ctg Good n Plenty YellowPetunia Ctg Pinkadilly CircusVerbena Wicked Cool Blue 2Verbena Wicked Great Grape 2

Plants evaluated

Plants were transplanted into a 1 quart round pot and place under ambient light conditions.Plants were evaluated weekly for first flower, full flower and ship stage.At the ship stage height, width, and Quality (1>5) were measured.

Material and Methods

Light MeasurementsLight measured at outdoor weather station.Period of Trial

Mixed range of results.Similar to Runkles results supplemental lighting of the plug decreased time to ship.Similar results between LED and HPS

Results

Dahlia WO72548 Dahlia Dahlinova Carolina Q1.0Mon Ann

Control

HPS

LED

Dahlia WO72548 Dahlia Dahlinova Carolina Q1.0Mon Ann

Control

HPS

LED

2 weeks faster ship time with supplemental lighting

Calibrachoa WO72289 Calibrachoa AlohaKona Hot Orange Q1.0Mon Ann

Control

HPS

LED

Calibrachoa WO72289 Calibrachoa AlohaKona Hot Orange Q1.0Mon Ann

Control

HPS

LED

2 weeks faster ship time with supplemental lighting. Some Additional benefit from LED

Calibrachoa WO72631 Calibrachoa Lindura Purple G1.5HBP LO Ann

Control

HPS

LED

Calibrachoa WO72631 Calibrachoa Lindura Purple G1.5HBP LO Ann

Control

HPS

LED

1 weeks faster ship time with HPS lighting. No benefit LED

Conclusions

Initial cost calculations demonstrated that a one week faster finish time would offset the added cost for LED lighting. However there is a faster pay back for HPS.Discussion

R:\MG0029 Light On Growth\LED VS HPS Cost Calculation.xlsx. Based on Calibrachoa basket 4 ppp/2 SF spacing.

LED fixtures worked as well as HPS sodium for crops that were responsive.There will be energy saving from using LED versus HPSHowever there is a substantial increase in costs to LED installations.The payback period from using the LED over HPS is between 2 -7 years.Discussion-What We FoundYear Pay Back= Energy saving costs from using LED versus HPS. Therefore how many years to pay back the added equipment cost with the initial pricing from last year

At the moment evaluating them all.What Are We Going To Do?

Supplemental lightings is not on the 2016-2017 Capital Budget, however more testing is in progress and will start by the end of this year .Right now LED is a substantial investment for us that does not have a quick pay back.What Are We Going To Do?

Supplemental lightings is not on the 2016-2017 Capital Budget.We will repeat the trial earlier in the season and look at more seed and vegetative crops.Expect even more benefits under early season low light level conditions.What Are We Going To Do?

Thank You!