White LED Light Sources - Merging Architectural and Horticultural Lighting Applications within Interior Environments (original) (raw)

Specific blue-red spectrum LED light sources have generally been used for horticultural lighting applications within interior environments. However, this small-scale qualitative pilot study comparing two plant-growth profiles reports that white LED light sources normally used for architectural lighting applications are biologically and visually more effective for horticultural lighting applications within interior environments. First profile involved three vegetable species namely, lettuce, parsley and tomato under three LED light spectrums-specific blue-red spectrum (460+630+660nm), full-range blue-red-white spectrum (380-730nm), and white full-spectrum (400-750nm). Second profile involved a collection of ornamental plant species under two colour temperatures of white LED light-warm-white (3000-kelvin) and neutral-white (4000-kelvin). Overall observations suggest that spectral properties of white LEDs, which mimic certain qualities of natural sunlight, have more advantages over blue-red LEDs such as stimulating plant metabolism for improved growth and better health, while rendering a natural appearance to plants. These observations may encourage the use of white LED light sources for both architectural and horticultural lighting applications within interior environments.