How LED intercanopy lighting complements high radiation of the sun
Source: HD.com
This technology has demonstrated notable results in countries like Japan, where tomato growers observed a 1.4% yield increase for each 1% of additional interlighting, with some reporting up to 25% higher yields compared to greenhouses lacking supplemental lighting. Since its initial adoption in 2013, more than 20 Japanese tomato growers have implemented Philips GreenPower interlighting, attracted by its potential for increased yields.
Growers employing single or double lines of interlighting at intensities of 55 or 110 μmol/m²/s have recorded substantial improvements in crop performance. The trend towards higher light intensities A recent trial with high-wire cucumber and tomato found that increasing light intensity by adding intraconapy lighting to sunlight or toplighting, improved crop performance and yields by up to 24%.
Why this matters: The operator takeaway is that light distribution matters as much as light quantity. When upper-canopy leaves are already near saturation, pushing more photons deeper into the crop can produce better whole-canopy performance than simply adding toplight.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does intercanopy lighting make the most sense?
When the top of the canopy already receives abundant light but lower leaves remain shaded and underproductive.
What should growers check before investing in intercanopy fixtures?
Crop type, greenhouse geometry, current light distribution, target yield gain, fixture heat load, and whether redistribution inside the canopy improves overall efficiency.
