Optimized Lighting for Strawberries: Key to Higher Yield & Quality

Optimized Lighting for Strawberries: Key to Higher Yield & Quality

As urban areas grow and farmland becomes limited, vertical farming is emerging as a smart solution for growing food indoors. Strawberries are one of the most popular crops grown in these farms because they require less space and can be cultivated all year round. However, since vertical farms don’t have natural sunlight, providing the right artificial light is essential for healthy plant growth and high yields.

To successfully grow strawberries in vertical farms, three key light factors must be optimized:
1️⃣ Light Intensity – How much light the plant receives.
2️⃣ Light Spectrum – The different colours of light that affect plant growth.
3️⃣ Photoperiod – How long the plants receive light each day.

When these factors are perfectly balanced, strawberries grow faster, produce more fruit, and taste sweeter!

Light Intensity ☀️

Light intensity determines how much energy the plant gets for growth and fruit production.

🔹 Strawberries need at least 300 µmol m−2 s−1 of light. Less than this can reduce yield.
🔹 Higher light intensity helps produce more daughter plants (baby plants) and increases their weight.
🔹 More light can also increase the sugar content in the berries, making them sweeter.
🔹 However, using high-intensity lights increases electricity costs, so growers must balance light levels for maximum profit.

Light Spectrum 🌈

Different colors of light affect plant growth in unique ways:

✅ Red light – Boosts photosynthesis, plant size, and flowering.
✅ Far-red light – Encourages early flowering and enhances plant growth.
✅ Blue light – Helps plants grow compact, improves leaf functions, and boosts nutrient production.
✅ UV light – Increases flavor, boosts plant defenses, and improves quality.
✅ Green light – Reaches lower leaves and helps with overall plant structure.

Many grow lights contain only red and blue light since plants use them efficiently. However, using a full-spectrum light (with all colors) improves plant nutrition, sugar content, and yield size. Also, working under only red and blue light makes it difficult to see leaf damage, pests, or diseases.

Photoperiod (Light Duration) ⏳

Photoperiod refers to the number of hours a plant receives light each day.

🔸 During the vegetative stage (when plants are growing leaves but not yet flowering), strawberries need 18 hours of light per day.
🔸 When they start flowering and producing fruit, the light duration is reduced to 12 hours per day.

By adjusting the photoperiod, growers can control the plant’s growth cycle and maximize fruit production.

Nexsel’s Research on Strawberry Growth 🌿🔬

Nexsel has conducted tests in growth chambers to find the best light spectrum for growing strawberries indoors. Scientists measured plant growth, fruit yield, plant structure, and sugar content.

🔹 Nexsel’s NxB Spectrum – A broad spectrum with red, blue, and far-red light, designed to enhance flowering and overall growth.
🔹 Competitor Spectrum – Contained only red and blue LEDs, mainly for increasing plant size.

💡 Nexsel used HYGL8-series grow lights, specially designed for vertical farms, tissue culture, and growth chambers.

With the right lighting setup, strawberries can grow healthier, produce more fruit, and taste better! 🍓✨