“Spectrometers used to be about five times as expensive, so it is exciting that growers can now have an affordable, handheld sensor,” says Vincent Jalink, Technical Sales Manager of PhenoVation. Jalink explains that there is an increasing demand from growers to do their own research, but that many are not yet aware that this can be done in an affordable and efficient way. He explains that the UPRTek PG200N Spectral PAR Meter measures the quantity and quality of light for indoor growers, offering growers insights into the effect that lighting has on their plants. 
The UPRTek PG200N Spectral PAR Meter
The importance of LED research
According to Jalink, it is important for growers to have insight into the quality and effects of the lighting in their greenhouse. “When using artificial lighting, you want to know what effect this has on your plants and what happens when you change your lighting. For example, with this sensor you can know exactly how much blue or far-red light your lamps emit, which enables you to make any necessary changes. Oftentimes, growers see certain developments, such as lack of production in the winter in comparison to spring or summer- time. By evaluating the spectrum themselves they can find that maybe a lack of a certain wavelength cases the plant to lose yield. In that case, by adjusting the light spectrum in the winter the same production can be achieved as in summer.”
Growers are becoming researchers
Jalink shares that there are external companies that can help growers with LED research, but that there has been a developing trend from growers to do their own research. “This is comparable to receiving your daily news. People used to only watch the news broadcasts on TV, but that is not enough anymore as people have become much more inquiring. Now, people want to search the internet for more information and get that information whenever they want. The same applies to growers and greenhouse research. Growers used to be dependent on other companies to do the research for them, but now they want to have their own insights about their crops. 
Lack of awareness
While there is an increasing demand from growers to do their own LED research, Jalink mentions that there is still a lack of awareness of how affordable and user-friendly this can actually be done. “Spectrometers used to cost between 10,000-25,000 euros, and many growers still think it has to be that expensive to acquire one. Yet, because of advanced technology the PG200N only costs 2789 euros excluding BTW, which is much less of an investment than it used to be. In addition, it has never been so easy to do your own LED research, as you can simply take the handheld sensor out of your pocket and start measuring.”
Special offer for our readers
Have you become interested in using the UPRTek PG200N Spectral PAR Meter in your own greenhouse? UPRtek has a special offer for our FloralDaily readers. If you send an email to vincent.jalink@phenovation.nl and add the code FLORALDAILY, you will get a discount on your purchase. This offer only lasts for the months of September and October 2021.
For more information:
UPRTek
Vincent Jalink
vincent.jalink@phenovation.nl
www.uprtek.eu.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-jalink-b8342522/