Sollum Technologies and Delphy: Setting New Standards in Greenhouse Innovation

Delphy has achieved a remarkable milestone in collaboration with Sollum Technologies. This partnership has propelled pepper cultivation research to new heights, setting a benchmark for greenhouse operations worldwide. By integrating Sollum’s dynamic LED lighting solution, Delphy overcame key challenges in pepper production, optimizing both yield and quality while enhancing Light Use Efficiency (LUE).

The Challenges of Traditional LED Systems in Pepper Production

Peppers, a staple greenhouse crop, often pose difficulties when cultivated under traditional LED lighting systems. Growers commonly face:

1. Low transpiration rates, which hinder nutrient uptake and stunt plant growth.
2. Inconsistent growth rates and varied internode lengths among different cultivars, making it challenging to achieve uniform production.

These issues not only limit productivity but also reduce the quality and marketability of the produce.

The Sollum Advantage: Dynamic LED Lighting

Sollum’s innovative approach tackles these challenges head-on by introducing dynamic LED lighting. Unlike static systems, dynamic lighting adapts light intensity and spectrum throughout the production cycle, catering to the specific needs of each pepper variety. Here’s how this transformation unfolded at Delphy:

• Customized Spectral Recipes: Tailored light spectra addressed variety-specific requirements, ensuring consistent growth across all cultivars.
• Optimized Far-Red Strategies: Strategic reductions in far-red light improved plant structure, leaf quality, and overall crop performance.
• Fine-Tuned Energy Efficiency: Sollum achieved an impressive LUE of 6.2 grams/mol, maximizing light-to-biomass conversion.

Trial Overview: Advancing Pepper Production with Dynamic LED Lighting

The trial aimed to enhance pepper production and optimize Light Use Efficiency (LUE) using Sollum Technologies’ dynamic LED lighting. Beginning in early October, peppers were grown under a 16-hour adaptive lighting strategy with PPFD levels maintained at 250-270 µmol/m²/s. The trial officially ran from Week 40 to Week 22 (end of May), with extended observations continuing until August.

Dynamic adjustments were key to the trial's success, focusing on fine-tuning far-red light strategies and spectral recipes to improve internode length, fruit set, and plant development. This innovative lighting approach delivered precise growth conditions, setting new standards for yield and quality in controlled environment agriculture.

The Results: A Record-Breaking Trial

Delphy’s trial, conducted from October to August, demonstrated the remarkable benefits of Sollum’s dynamic LED system. Key outcomes include:

• Increased Yield: Total yield rose from 45.67 kg/m² in the 2020-2021 trial to 46.71 kg/m² in 2023-2024, while Class I peppers—indicative of premium quality—improved from 40.74 kg/m² to 41.75 kg/m².
• Reduced Lower-Grade Produce: Class II yields dropped from 2.36 kg/m² to just 1.06 kg/m², reflecting higher overall quality.
• Stable Fruit Weight: Uniform fruit sizes (190-220 grams) and a rapid growth period (44 days from fruit set to harvest) underscored the system’s precision.
  

The Importance of LEDs in Controlled Environment Agriculture

LED lighting is a cornerstone of modern controlled environment agriculture (CEA). By offering growers precise control over light spectra, intensity, and duration, LEDs enable:

• Enhanced Photosynthesis: LEDs can provide optimal wavelengths to maximize photosynthetic efficiency, supporting faster and healthier plant growth.
• Energy Savings: Compared to traditional lighting systems, LEDs consume less power and last longer, reducing operational costs and environmental impact.
• Year-Round Production: Tailored lighting strategies allow growers to produce high-quality crops regardless of season or geographic location.

The Sollum/Delphy partnership exemplifies how advanced LED technology is transforming greenhouse production, pushing the boundaries of yield and sustainability. By leveraging dynamic lighting solutions, growers can meet evolving market demands, achieve uniformity across crops, and significantly reduce waste.

As controlled environment agriculture continues to expand, innovations like Sollum’s dynamic LEDs will play a vital role in shaping its future, offering a path to greater efficiency, resilience, and profitability.

Ready to Revolutionize Your Greenhouse?

Discover how Sollum Technologies’ dynamic LED lighting can transform your greenhouse operations. From tailored light recipes to energy-efficient solutions, Sollum empowers growers to overcome production challenges, boost yields, and deliver top-quality crops year-round.

Experience the future of greenhouse innovation with dynamic LED. Visit Sollum Technologies today and learn how dynamic LED lighting can help you achieve unmatched precision, efficiency, and sustainability. Let’s grow smarter, together!