Development of an Experimental Phytotron and its Application in the Research on the Energy-ecological Efficiency of Indoor Plant Lighting

The study of indoor plant lighting is noted to be an interdisciplinary research area. Thus, there is a need to integrate various technical sciences and practical methods in growing plants under artificial conditions. Nowadays, it is reasonable to treat energy-ecological efficiency of indoor plant lighting as a complex scientific direction that takes into account substance flow forming the energy and environmental indicators of an artificial agroecosystem. (Research purpose) To develop an experimental laboratory phytotron intended for research on the energy-ecology efficiency of indoor plant lighting, and to conduct its biological testing. (Materials and methods) From the standpoint of the logical-semantic approach, the term "energy-ecological efficiency" was interpreted as a conjunction of its components - energy efficiency and environmental compatibility. The paper outlines the theoretical fundamentals of the energy-ecological efficiency approach to indoor plant lighting, which determine the experimental research features. The requirements for the techniques of conducting experiments are formulated. The phytotron design and its operation principles are described. Biological testing was carried out on Blagovest F1 tomato plants (Lycopersicum Esculentum Mill.) in the seedling phase of plant development. The plant response to changes in the lighting factors was determined: photoperiod (normal and extended), spectrum (a blue-enhanced spectrum and a control one), and irradiance level (low, medium, and high). (Results and discussion) Under the varied lighting conditions, energy-ecology efficiency varied from 0.075 grams per mole (with the control spectrum, an extended photoperiod and high irradiance) to 0.138 grams per mole (with the blue-enhanced spectrum, a normal photoperiod and medium irradiance). (Conclusions) An experimental laboratory phytotron was developed to study the energy-ecology efficiency of indoor plant lighting. The ability to control irradiance was achieved depending on the mass of plants. The phytotron unit provides easy access to plants, it is compact, ergonomic and has improved functional capacity.

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