An integrated number one wood and high efficiencies were two of the top rationality Queen ’s University pick out to retrofit their research greenhouses with the HortiLED Top 2.0 . The Queen ’s University Phytotron was designed and build up in 1996 as a gist for experimental plant biology research . The adeptness has a combination of 26 growth chambers and six nursery compartments to provide a various raiment of surroundings for the growth of observational plant and being . The Phytotron greenhouses had not been upgraded for many years , and they had been using legacy magnetised ballast HPS luminaires to light their crops . When Saeid Mobini , the University ’s Phytotron Manager , necessitate over a twelvemonth ago he eff how crucial have a good lighting system of rules was to the wellness and productivity of the plants . With the 2020 pandemic bringing activity to a stop in the research greenhouses , it render them the consummate chance to upgrade their light organisation .
Saeid Mobini
Professional experienceWith an blanket screen background in horticulture and having worked as a greenhouse specialist for the Government of Alberta , Saeid Mobini has spent the last 12 days providing consulting services to the Canadian horticultural industry before bring together Queen ’s University in 2020 . Through his professional experience , he has had the opportunity to evaluate and compare 22 dissimilar contribute horticultural luminaires and worked with several LED maker around North America , Europe , and Asia . He has also designed firing plans for gamey conducting wire crops , greenhouse ornamental , and leafy K , as well as vertical farms . Having had the chance to ferment with so many different LEDs , when it came to prefer a system that worked for the Queen ’s greenhouses , he elect to go with P.L. Light Systems ’ HortiLED Top 2.0 Daylight Spectrum , as it rank in the top - performing LEDs out of the 22 light he had trialed .
Some reasons for going with the HortiLED Top 2.0 included that it has high efficaciousness , which allowed them to receive the maximal rebate amount . Besides , it has an mix driver ( vs. external number one wood box ) , making it easy to install with minimal wiring and it has a very unchanging spectrum for plant outgrowth . lastly , P.L. has a knowledgeable sales and customer attention team with first-class warranty support .
No external driver boxHaving no external driver box was a very important point he stressed , when opt a luminaire and is something he advises his glasshouse clients on when choosing an LED system . " This is because when a luminaire has an external driver , it involves eminent undertaking costs and more wiring - it also intend if you need to move the lights for some reason , it becomes more high-priced and complicated . stimulate an integrated driver , therefore , saves the agriculturalist time and money , " he say .
With the new HortiLED Top 2.0 luminaires set up , the team has consider significant improvements in works quality . The University has a variety of dissimilar task they are working on , including flora phenotyping , cover , crossing , tank farming , and aquaponics ( vegetables and leafy greens ) , as well as field of honor crops , and their indoor garden — which is a collection of over 250 unlike tropic trees , flower , and air plants — all of which are now maturate under HortiLED Top 2.0 Daylight luminaires .
The new light-emitting diode have also greatly improved the light uniformity over the crops . Previously , the old magnetized ballast resistor luminaires had wretched uniformness and high peak of wavelengths in the 820 New Mexico ambit , which put a lot of heat tension on the various crops they were growing . With the HortiLED Top 2.0 , the uniformness is greatly improved , and the spectrum is also more tune to what the plant life want . get high ignitor uniformity is very significant for craw growing , as you could have area of high and low intensity which will adversely affect plant wellness . Working with a customized light plan , as well as luminaires that allow a broad output helps make certain that there are no “ spicy ” or “ cold ” areas in the nursery , ensuring all plants are receive the same amount of light and therefore have uniform growth .
