Vertical farming is also referred to as indoor farming. By 2050, we expect that over 65% of the population will live in cities. There need to be new agricultural approaches to ensure that there’s enough food near the cities.
Vertical farming is the solution. Vertical farming entails farming in warehouses. This kind of farming doesn’t require sunlight. However, for plants to grow, sunlight is essential. To cater for light and warmth to the growing crops, vertical farmers use LED lights.
LED lights provide light, warmth, and conducive conditions for vertical farmers to grow healthy crops. Vertically farmed crops grow faster than those farmed in the fields or a greenhouse. Making it the best solution for feeding overpopulated cities.
Here is why vertical farmers have increasingly opted for LED lights for their farms.
Cost
There have been many experiments with vertical farming lighting. One drawback that was found was the cost of getting artificial light indoors. It was also mostly ineffective on the crops.
Over time, LED light technology has grown in use. This has led to the cost of LED lights drastically reducing.
To manage the costs of vertical farming, many farmers and companies involved in this venture turned to cheaper LED lights. This helped to lower costs as research for this method of farming continued.
Further, LED lights were found to be a proper replacement for sunlight in the crop growing process.
LED Lights Produce The Right Light Wavelength For Crop Growing
LED lights used in vertical farming are a pink hue. This is to mimic the light wavelength from the sun that crops need to grow.
The sun produces different light wavelengths. However, drops need only a specific wavelength for them to grow. According to the study of these wavelengths, it was discovered that crops need only the red and blue wavelengths,
The sun’s light wavelengths are as the colors of the rainbow.
We can term the pink hue produced by LED lights in vertical farming a visible light spectrum. This is how crops perceive the sun’s light wavelength they need to grow. The pink light is thus a perception of the human eye to the light wavelength.
The light wavelength producing the pink hue enables photosynthesis and proper leaf formation to take place in the growing crops.
Durability
LED lights are long-lasting. They can last for six years without ever needing a change. Thus they are a reliable light source for vertical farming. Durability goes a long way in helping reduce the costs of farming.
Another factor that enhances their durability is that they don’t consume too much power. Thus helping to reduce energy costs and help to enhance the productivity of the vertical farms. Compared to other artificial sources of light for vertical farming, LED lights are highly efficient.
Space Saving
Vertical farming came about so that there can be an effective use of space to grow crops. As a result, vertical farms need to use their space optimally. The flexibility and easy handling of LED lights make this possible.
Vertical farming involves farming crops in layers. Vertical farmers can place LED lights in each of these layers, providing sufficient heat and light for growing crops. Someone can easily snake them around the vertical pillars and layers of growing crops.
Alternative light sources may require more space than the LED lights, causing fewer crops to be grown. They also produce more heat than the LED lights. This leads to the need for more space between the layers of vertical farms to reduce the heat around the crops.
Conclusion
Vertical farming lighting is the most essential component of growing crops indoors. Without the right light, crops will not grow in time or as healthy as they do. LED lights have proven to be a reliable partner and source of light for vertical farms and the crops they grow.