Twelve Practical Applications of Visible Light for Improved Crop Growth in Agriculture

Plants need a steady energy source for growth, primarily obtained from light. Light plays a vital role in shaping plants' physiological, morphological, and biochemical traits through its three main aspects: intensity, quality, and duration. Although light is not the only factor in photosynthesis, it acts as an essential signal regulating various stages of plant growth, from germination to flowering.

Plants respond differently to light depending on the types of pigments involved, especially photosynthetic and accessory pigments that respond to different light spectra. In modern greenhouse farming, grow lights are commonly used to optimise plant development conditions. Among these, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have gained notable attention because of their benefits, including longer lifespan, ability to produce specific wavelengths, low energy use, and flexibility to adjust both light intensity and spectrum according to plant needs.

This study, conducted by the Saleh Research Group, aimed to assess the effects of various light treatments on different plant growth processes. The findings showed that white fluorescent light is especially effective in promoting flowering, while a combination of yellow, white, and red light improves fruit production in greenhouse settings. Yellow light was particularly effective for vegetative growth, enhancing leaf and stem development. Similarly, yellow light was beneficial for ornamental plant growth. For root crops, a mixture of yellow and white light produced positive outcomes, and for breeding and cultivating beans, yellow light was deemed the most appropriate. In this paper we are going to explain more about 12 ways which light can be utilised in agriculture.