Sweet peppers: A review of the current scientific knowledge & commercial experience of using supplementary lighting for AYR production

Summary

  • Economics aside, the technology and knowledge is available to successfully grow sweet peppers with supplementary lighting in the UK without the need for any further R&D work;
  • The availability of a significant price premium for early season produce is a fundamental requirement for growing sweet peppers with supplementary lighting;
  • Energy represents the biggest single increase in variable cost that must be recouped if adopting this approach;
  • The quality of light produced by high pressure sodium lamps is adequate for supplementary lighting sweet peppers;
  • Most growers light from between 04:00 and 06:00 to 16:30 in mid February. Lighting earlier causes dark heads. While yields are likely to increase with lighting for longer, care is needed with regards to plant balance;
  • Increases in pest and disease incidence are possible and effective methods of control will be required
  • Reliable, detailed data on yield patterns and energy use is required to help sweet pepper growers assess more accurately the economics of supplementary lighting.

 

Sector:
Horticulture
Project code:
PC 270
Date:
01 January 2007 - 01 September 2007
Project leader:
C T Pratt

Downloads

PC 270 Final report 2007

About this project

AIMS:

  • To ensure that UK sweet pepper growers remain well informed about developments in AYR production
  • To identify any gaps in current knowledge allowing a longer-term R&D strategy for AYR sweet pepper production to be developed.

 OBJECTIVES:

  • To determine to current level of experience with AYR sweet pepper production on commercial nurseries in the Netherlands.
  • To identify the limits/constraints encountered, especially those relating to crop management and plant physiology.
  • To identify the current gaps in knowledge about the response of sweet peppers to artificial light to enable AYR production.
  • To develop a R&D strategy for AYR sweet pepper production.
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