Recently, the Van Dingenen nursery in Merksplas, Belgium, decided to install LED lighting in their greenhouse specifically for the cultivation of strawberries.
LED lighting for the cultivation of strawberries is becoming more common, so that cultivation can be done all year round. This allows growers to choose between an early and a late cultivation, a winter cultivation or a combination of both. During winter cultivation, the day is extended to 12 hours, so that the cultivation does not go into winter dormancy and continuous harvesting can take place.
Adjustable light
In the months with sufficient light, the lighting can be adjusted so that the plant always receives an optimal amount of light, with the option for more or less light for each growth phase. As energy costs rise, the light can be dimmed to save on energy.
A good balance between the right light spectrum for lighting and the right intensity is of the utmost importance, both technically and financially. Too little light quickly leads to lower production, flower abortion, smaller fruits and a more difficult plant balance. With too much light both investment costs and operational costs increase.
Installation
The engineering of the lighting project with Mecha-Tronix fixtures and the electrical installation was carried out by Bosman Van Zaal.
Bosman Van Zaal’s PLC was used to protect the LED installation against exceeding import power, programmed in-house and intended to control the processes. For example: if the CHP for energy generation fails during lighting, the lighting will be immediately switched off by the PLC. During normal operation, start-up/shut-down of the exposure will take place step by step to avoid voltage fluctuations.
