Flemish tomato grower Tomato Masters and Plessey will complete the LED installation of 100% Hyperion top lights this year, bringing the overall level of supplementary light to over 200 umol/m²/s. The main installation was undertaken in 2018 with plans to reach full light output in 2019.
At 5.4ha, it is one of the largest 100% LED installations on tomatoes in the world and there has been a lot of interest in how the crop reacts. With traditional HPS lighting, radiant heat from the lamps increases the leaf temperature at the top of the crop. With LED being a cooler light source, this radiant heat is missing.
To address this, Tomato Masters installed a high-level heating pipe to compensate for the temperature difference but so far, the pipes have not been needed, prompting head grower, Tom Vlaemynck to consider lowering the heating pipe.
“We chose to install the extra heating pipe and also double screens in the greenhouse, to keep the heat inside. At night, the dark screen was closed to prevent radiation from the lamps. During the day, the energy screen, which is clear, was closed. When it was cold outside at night, both screens were closed. This strategy with the screens means we have not had to use the extra heating pipe between the heads. This summer we will lower it to warm up the tomatoes.” commented Tom Vlaemynck.
The first phase installation of Hyperion LED top lights
Plessey head Agronomist Maarten Klein commented: “With this LED light installation over 200 umo/m²/sl, Tomato Master is able to produce a daily artificial light sum which is equivalent to 1200 Joules, excluding the ambient light levels. With this high lighting capacity, Tomato Master is able to light a full grown and loaded crop in mid-winter with a reasonable head density. This enables the grower to choose a planting date year-round and ensure a stable high weekly production year round, regardless of the variety choice”.
For more information:
Sam Langridge
Plessey/ Hyperion Grow Lights
Phone: +44 1752 693 000
Email: | sam.langridge@plesseysemi.com
Hannah Wright
Phone: +44 1752 693 000
Email: | hannah.wright@plesseysemi.com
Jonathan Barton
Hyperion Grow Lights
Sales Information
Email: jonathan.barton@plesseysemi.com
Web: www.hyperiongrowlights.com