Ensuring high yields is the most important task for any farmer. One of the factors that affects the high fertility of crops is lighting. It is light that provides the best conditions for growth, nutrition, formation and other life processes. You can assemble the backlight yourself, it is only important to choose lamps, taking into account many factors.
Lighting ranges
Natural daylight is the best light for plant life. Artificial greenhouse lighting can affect crops in a variety of ways. It can be divided into ranges by wavelength:
- 320 nm - 400 nm - small amounts of such lighting are required for plants;
- 400 nm - 500 nm - blue is required for vegetative growth of vegetation;
- 500 nm - 600 nm - green is required for photosynthesis of lower leaves;
- 600 nm - 700 nm - red illumination is required for photosynthesis during flowering;
- 700nm - 750nm - Far red is required in small quantities;
- 1200 nm - 1600 nm - acceleration of biochemical reactions occurs.
Vegetation reacts differently to each spectrum at a particular stage in its development. But during the entire life of plants, the radiation must be complete and contain all colors. If any part of the radiation spectrum is missing, the crop will be of poor quality.
Since there are currently no lamps invented that can completely simulate and replace solar lighting, several lamps must be combined.
Backlight time
The amount and frequency of illumination plays an important role. Fruiting plants need more sun than those that produce edible foliage.
Cultures are considered to be short-day:
- zucchini;
- eggplant;
- tomatoes;
- peppers.
They need 8-10 hours of light.
The following plants need more than 12 hours:
- onion;
- garlic;
- dill;
- salad;
- cucumbers;
- cabbage;
- roots.
Before creating the greenhouse lighting, you need to calculate the illumination in advance. High-quality vegetation lighting will include several bulbs from a different spectrum. Luminaires should be installed in such a way that all plants receive light.
Lighting for different types of greenhouses
There are 3 types of greenhouses: polycarbonate, industrial and winter.
Polycarbonate is a high-quality covering material that is actively used in greenhouses. It has high light transmittance and is easy to maintain. Several types of lamps need to be installed in a polycarbonate greenhouse. The following greenhouse light is commonly used:
- incandescent lamps - they give unnecessary radiation, which can negatively affect plants;
- mercury - additionally heat the room;
- sodium - they are distinguished by high luminous efficiency and a yellow-orange spectrum, favorable for plants;
- fluorescent - the best option for greenhouses, they interact well with UV lamps;
- halogen - accurately replicate the spectrum of natural backlighting;
- LED - give high quality blue and red light.
In industrial greenhouses, special lamps with high efficiency and high-quality light are used. Sodium light sources are commonly used.
Winter is characterized by short daylight hours. There is not enough sunlight, so you need to choose the right lighting equipment. The main criteria are the duration and power of the backlight.
It is also important to consider the area of the greenhouse. The light must be uniform throughout the greenhouse, so luminaires with reflective reflectors can be used. By the type of bulbs used mercury, sodium, fluorescent (ideal for winter lighting), metal halide, LED sources.
Lamp options
Luminescent sources should be selected for their color temperature. The most affordable is cold light, suitable for background lighting. The warm color is used by growers. There are combination appliances that combine the benefits of warm and cold colors. Great for night lighting.
Energy saving appliances are small and handy. They are used in conjunction with reflective reflectors.
Gas discharge lamps are represented by mercury, sodium and metal halide devices. They are used in professional greenhouses and are expensive. They have a high luminous efficiency and a spectrum favorable for vegetation. Metal halide sources simulate natural spring light and are used in the first growth phase.
Greenhouse LEDs and LED strip are the most environmentally friendly and modern devices. They have high efficiency, long service life and require a small amount of electricity. You can make LED lamps for the greenhouse with your own hands.
Lighting for different cultures
To grow cucumbers, the following rules must be followed in a greenhouse:
- the use of additional light with a lack of natural light;
- there should be no break between daylight and artificial light;
- period of darkness - 6 hours;
- temperature under artificial light +/- 8 degrees.
Onions need natural greenhouse lighting. Phytolamps are additionally used.
To grow strawberries, you need meter-long fluorescent lamps with a power of 40-50 watts.
The formation of strawberry inflorescences occurs during 14-18 hours of daylight hours. When using additional light, fruiting occurs earlier and the volume of the crop increases. In nature, it occurs during the spring-summer period.
Tomatoes require additional lighting with direct light. In the early days, the backlight is applied for 20 hours, gradually decreasing it to 16 and 12 hours.
Lighting is calculated using the formula F = E x S / Ki, where F is the required light flux, E is the illumination, S is the greenhouse area, Ki is the flow utilization factor.
Greenhouse electrification
- creation of a layout for greenhouses and lighting fixtures;
- calculation of the area of wires, junction boxes;
- purchase of materials - cables, sockets, switches and other auxiliary devices;
- output of wires from the shield to the greenhouse;
- connecting wires to sockets.
The wires can be run over ground and air. For a correct, safe and reliable installation, a number of requirements must be observed. The depth of the trench when laying underground must be at least 0.8 m, it must not intersect with the drainage system, and the cable itself must be protected by a corrugated pipe. When laying overhead, the cables should not touch bushes and trees, as this can lead to wire breakage.
Particular attention should be paid to the selection of the cable cross-section for lighting in the greenhouse. The calculation can be done using formulas that take into account power and current.
