Bigger tomatoes,
smaller energy bills

GreenQ Improvement center is no stranger to LED. The previous year it had demonstrated that when mixed with traditional lighting, the energy from LED interlighting is converted more efficiently by the plant. This year, LED greenhouse lighting would be used in conjunction with conventional SON-T lamps. The aim was to harvest 79 kg of tomatoes per m2 with an energy reduction of 30%. Larger row spacing was used to provide more light to the crop and eliminate the shading effect.

The trial yielded promising results. Lighting the lowest leaves had a positive effect on coarseness and production of tomatoes. By distributing LED light to the lower part of the crop, the plants are able to absorb more energy.

Grower Robert Zwinkels has for the past two years been involved in the LED tests in the Improvement Centre. As far as he is concerned, the LEDs have proved their value. “The results have pleasantly surprised me. The LED light was used 30 to 40 percent more efficiently than if we had used extra SON-T lamps. That resulted in quite a few extra kilos.” Because of their low heat emission, the LED plant growing lights can be placed near the bottom of the plants – exactly where light is needed the most.