The influence of the light spectrum on the growth and development of greenhouse plants on the example of cucumber culture (Cucumissativus L., Cucurbitaceae family)

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the work is to develop the lighting mode for the cucumber photoculture. The developed lighting mode should intensify production process by optimizing spectral characteristics of the light sources used at different stages of the life cycle of the plant. The authors conducted experiments on the cultivation of cucumber culture under conditions of ecosystems of small volume with artificial illumination. As the lighting sources, LED elements with phyto-oriented spectra were used. Based on dynamics of phenological and morphometric parameters and productivity of plants, the authors concludes that pre-sowing irradiation provided positive effect on seed germination. Artificial lighting sources with additional red LEDs (625nm in the ratio 9:2) accelerated the development of the vegetative and generative systems. Illumination by white spectrum LEDs (Ra80, CCT 3000 K) contributed to improving the efficiency of photosynthesis processes extended the period of active life of the plants. The authors proposed variants of artificial lighting with the use of light sources composed of LEDs of different spectra for the effective cultivation of cucumber according to different stages of plant life cycle.