scholarly journals Plant Factories Are Heating Up: Hunting for the Best Combination of Light Intensity, Air Temperature and Root-Zone Temperature in Lettuce Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Carotti ◽  
Luuk Graamans ◽  
Federico Puksic ◽  
Michele Butturini ◽  
Esther Meinen ◽  
...  

This study analyzed interactions among photon flux density (PPFD), air temperature, root-zone temperature for growth of lettuce with non-limiting water, nutrient, and CO2 concentration. We measured growth parameters in 48 combinations of a PPFD of 200, 400, and 750 μmol m–2 s–1 (16 h daylength), with air and root-zone temperatures of 20, 24, 28, and 32°C. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Batavia Othilie) was grown for four cycles (29 days after transplanting). Eight combinations with low root-zone (20 and 24°C), high air temperature (28 and 32°C) and high PPFD (400 and 750 μmol m–2 s–1) resulted in an excessive incidence of tip-burn and were not included in further analysis. Dry mass increased with increasing photon flux to a PPFD of 750 μmol m–2 s–1. The photon conversion efficiency (both dry and fresh weight) decreased with increasing photon flux: 29, 27, and 21 g FW shoot and 1.01, 0.87, and 0.76 g DW shoot per mol incident light at 200, 400, and 750 μmol m–2 s–1, respectively, averaged over all temperature combinations, following a concurrent decrease in specific leaf area (SLA). The highest efficiency was achieved at 200 μmol m–2 s–1, 24°C air temperature and 28°C root-zone temperature: 44 g FW and 1.23 g DW per mol incident light. The effect of air temperature on fresh yield was linked to all leaf expansion processes. SLA, shoot mass allocation and water content of leaves showed the same trend for air temperature with a maximum around 24°C. The effect of root temperature was less prominent with an optimum around 28°C in nearly all conditions. With this combination of temperatures, market size (fresh weight shoot = 250 g) was achieved in 26, 20, and 18 days, at 200, 400, and 750 μmol m–2 s–1, respectively, with a corresponding shoot dry matter content of 2.6, 3.8, and 4.2%. In conclusion, three factors determine the “optimal” PPFD: capital and operational costs of light intensity vs the value of reducing cropping time, and the market value of higher dry matter contents.

HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1160b-1160
Author(s):  
Khin San Wai ◽  
S.E. Newman

The response of Antirrhinum majus (snapdragon) cultivars (`Tampicoi' and `Rainier White') to night air temperatures (10C and 20C) and elevated root-zone temperature (26C and ambient) was studied. Height of plants grown with a heated root-zone were greater, compared to unheated at both night temperatures for both cultivars. Shoot dry weight of `Tampico' plants was reduced by heated root-zone temperature at 20C night air temperature. Raceme length was greater with heated root-zone temperature compared to unheated at 10C night air temperature. Days to flower were shorter with heated compared to unheated root-zone at both night air temperatures for both cultivars. Stomatal diffusive resistance was greater on plants with unheated compared to heated root-zone temperature at 10C night air temperature for `Rainier White'.


1992 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Ruter ◽  
Dewayne L. Ingram

Plants of `Rotundifolia' holly (Ilex crenata Thunb.) were grown for 3 weeks with root zones at 30,34,38, or 42C for 6 hours daily to evaluate the effects of supraoptimal root-zone temperatures on various photosynthetic processes. After 3 weeks, photosynthesis of plants grown with root zones at 38 or 42C was below that of plants grown at 30 or 34C. Chlorophyll and carotenoid levels decreased while leaf soluble protein levels increased as root-zone temperature increased. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) activity per unit protein and per unit chlorophyll responded quadratically, while RuBisCO activity per unit fresh weight increased linearly in response to increasing root-zone temperature. Results of this study suggest that `Rotundifolia' holly was capable of altering metabolism or redistributing available assimilates to maintain CO2 assimilation rates in response to increasing root-zone temperatures.


2002 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 754-758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingzhang Xu ◽  
Bingru Huang ◽  
Zhaolong Wang

High air and soil temperatures are major factors limiting growth of cool-season grasses. A previous study by the authors reported that a soil temperature reduction of only 3 °C when air temperature was maintained at 35 °C significantly improved shoot and root growth of creeping bentgrass [Agrostis stolonifera L. var. palustris (Huds.) Farw. (syn. A. palustris Huds.)]. This study was designed to investigate the responses of photosynthetic activities of creeping bentgrass to lowered root-zone temperatures from the supraoptimal level when shoots were exposed to high air temperature. Two cultivars of creeping bentgrass, `L-93' and `Penncross', were exposed to the following air/root-zone temperature regimes in growth chambers and water baths: 1) optimal air and soil temperatures (20/20 °C, control); 2) lowering soil temperature by 3, 6, and 11 °C from 35 °C at high air temperatures (35/32, 35/29, and 35/24 °C); and 3) high air and soil temperatures (35/35 °C). Soil temperature was reduced from 35 °C by circulating cool water (18 °C) in water baths at variable flow rates. Both cultivars had similar responses to high or low root-zone temperatures with high air temperature. High air and root-zone temperatures caused significant reductions in canopy photosynthetic rate (Pcanopy), single-leaf photosynthetic rate (Pleaf), leaf chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity, beginning on day 1 of high air and soil temperature stress for Pcanopy and Pleaf, and day 7 for chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm, and Rubisco activity. The 3 °C reduction in root-zone temperature at high air temperature had no effect on those photosynthetic parameters, except chlorophyll content. Reducing root-zone temperature by 6 °C or 11 °C while maintaining air temperature at 35 °C significantly improved Pcanopy, Poleaf, leaf chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm, and Rubisco activity. Single leaf photosynthetic rate at 35/24 °C was not different from the control level, but Pcanopy at 35/24 °C was lower than the control level. A reduction in root-zone temperature enhanced canopy and single-leaf photosynthetic capacity even though shoots were exposed to supraoptimal air temperature, which could contribute to improved turfgrass growth.


HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 688b-688
Author(s):  
Yong-Zhan Ma ◽  
Martin P.N. Gent

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) seedlings were grown with air temperature of 28°C light/12°C dark (12/12 hours), and either a constant, 20°C, root-zone temperature (RZT), or in-phase with air temperature, 28°C in the light and 12°C in the dark, or out-of-phase, 12°C in the light and 28°C in the dark. These treatments were applied from 17 to 25 days after germination, with 200 m \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{NO}_{-}^{3}\) \end{document} in flowing nutrient solution. The relative growth rate of leaves was the greatest with constant RZT, 0.33/d, and least with out-of-phase RZT, 0.29/d. The concentration of free amino acid and protein in leaves was least for out-of-phase RZT. The \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{NO}_{-}^{3}\) \end{document} concentration in leaves was the highest in the dark, intermediate in the middle of the light period, and the lowest at the end of the light period. In roots, \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{NO}_{-}^{3}\) \end{document} concentration showed a similar trend. This variation was greatest when RZT was varied out of phase, and least with constant RZT. At the end of the light period, \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{NO}_{-}^{3}\) \end{document} concentration in roots was 246, 180, and 162 μmol·g–1 dry weight for constant, in phase, and out of phase RZT, respectively. In the light, leaves of seedlings grown with out-of-phase RZT had 5 mmol·g–1 \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{NO}_{-}^{3}\) \end{document}, compared to 16 mmol·g–1 with in-phase RZT Availability of \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{NO}_{-}^{3}\) \end{document} in the light may be the factor limiting plant growth with out-of-phase RZT. This research was supported in part by grant number 93-37100-9101 from the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program/USDA.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 112-121
Author(s):  
Harby Mostafa ◽  
El-Sayed Khater ◽  
Ramy Hamouda

The main aim is to find out the influence of using coloured plastic mulches (blue, white, green, red, black and white on black) compared with a mulch-free treatment on the root zone temperature, growth and productivity of broccoli. The results indicated that the highest and lowest mean root zone temperatures were recorded the in the dark-coloured mulches (blue, green, red and white on black) and in the light-coloured mulches (white), respectively, in both the winter and spring seasons. The average shoot length, leaf number and root volume of the broccoli for all the treatments was higher in the spring season compared with those of the winter season. The highest marketable head fresh weight values were 449.6 and 451.0 g found in the black mulch, while the lowest values were 391.4 and 397.5 g found in the winter and spring seasons for the red mulch, respectively. The N, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations in the broccoli heads ranged from 2.0 to 2.8%, 0.9 to 1.0%, 2.7 to 3.6%, 1.9 to 5.9% and 0.5 to 0.89%, respectively, for all the treatments.


2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majid Amini Dehaghi ◽  
Seyed Ali Mohammad Modarres Sanavy

Annual medic pastures are an effective component of ley-farming systems (cereal–legume rotations) in Australian areas with a Mediterranean climate, but they have been unsuccessful in areas near the Mediterranean Sea. In some zones with a Mediterranean climate, like Iran and Syria, root-zone temperature is considered the major growth-limiting factor for annual medic early in the growing season. In order to study the effect of low root-zone temperature (RZT) on growth and development, yield, and yield components of some annual Medicago species, an experiment was conducted in a controlled-environment chamber. In this experiment, 3 species of annual medics, namely Medicago polymorpha, M. radiata, and M. rigidula, thought to be adapted to cold and temperate conditions, were used. Four root-zone temperatures (5, 10, 15, and 20�C) were considered. The experimental layout was a completely randomised block design with 4 replications. There were differences among the annual medics for dry matter and yield components. Two species, M. polymorpha and M. rigidula, had more leaf, stem, and root dry matter, plant height, leaf and stem to root ratio, leaf to stem ratio, and leaf area and yield than M. radiata. Therefore, M. polymorpha and M. rigidula may be better suited for ley-farming systems in cold and temperate zones. The results also showed that the 5�C RZT effectively decreased the yield and yield components of the annual medics. In conclusion, application of ley-farming is not likely to be successful when RZT is below 5�C, especially during vegetative development. Therefore, in the zones where soil temperature is greater than 10�C, annual medics have normal growth and produce average yields. Ley-farming (cereal–legume rotation) could be replaced with fallow–cereal rotation.


HortScience ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ritu Dhir ◽  
Richard L. Harkess ◽  
Guihong Bi

Bleaching of the youngest leaves of actively growing ivy geranium (Pelargonium peltatum L.) develops as the temperature increases from late spring to summer in the southeastern United States. Heat stress-induced iron deficiency has been suspected as causing this disorder. Ivy geranium ‘Beach’ (bleaching-resistant) and ‘Butterfly’ (bleaching-susceptible) were grown for 8 weeks at 24 or 31 °C average root-zone temperature and iron chelate (Fe-EDDHA, 6% Fe) was applied at 0 mg Fe (control), 0.54 mg Fe foliar spray, 1.08 mg Fe foliar spray, 54 mg Fe drench, or 108 mg Fe drench per plant at 30-day intervals. In a second experiment, ivy geranium ‘Beach’ and ‘Butterfly’ plants were grown for 6 weeks at 28 °C day/16 °C night or 36 °C day/22 °C night average air temperatures and iron chelate (Fe-EDDHA, 6% Fe) was applied at 0 mg (control) or 27 mg Fe soil drench per pot at 15-day intervals. No bleaching was observed as a result of elevated root-zone temperatures. High levels of Fe-chelate suppressed growth reducing fresh weight, dry weight, and fresh-to-dry-weight ratio in ‘Butterfly’. Elevated air temperatures severely reduced plant growth, leaf area, fresh weight, and dry weight in both cultivars. Elevated air temperature reduced chlorophyll a, carotenoids, and pheophytins in ‘Butterfly’ but not in ‘Beach’. Fe-chelate application had no effect at ambient temperature but increased chlorophyll to carotenoids ratio (Chl:Caro) at elevated air temperatures in ‘Butterfly’. Therefore, elevated air temperatures were determined to be the cause of bleaching in ivy geranium.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document