Vineland Research and Innovation Centre ( Vineland ) is realise as Canada ’s leader in gardening inquiry and innovation . turn up in Ontario ’s Niagara area , on a 218 - acre campus , they are an self-governing , not - for - net income system dedicate to go on gardening skill . The campus is consist of research laboratories , farm and greenhouses and focus on a assortment of areas―including plant genomics , consumer brainwave , automation and biocontrol .
Having the most efficient horticultural technology is important for furthering the success of their research and is why they work to P.L. Light Systems when retrofitting their older nursery composite . Their goal was to retrofit their exist 400W magnetic ballast HPS luminaires , with reliable and highly efficient 600W electronic ballast HPS luminaires . Due to the low-spirited roof height of the greenhouse , they deploy the NXT - LP luminaire with Alpha reflectors , designed specifically for downhearted ceiling applications to maximise space .
We speak with lead grower , James Toivonen , who note that the retrofit process was made easy by the loyal and professional communication of the sales team . With the lighting program , it made the entire induction process straightforward and trouble - free , and the integrate floor on the side of the luminaires , made it dim-witted to secure the lights were always correctly oriented . The light plan was also a not bad tool to grant for tailoring easy levels to the unlike crops they originate , while making efficient use of the lighting to keep off wasting energy . A light plan is a computation of the good possible coordination of luminaires ( in terms of their distance and orientation from one another , as well as the crop ) , to achieve optimum light intensity and uniformness .
The old luminaire installation above had inconsistent light levels , with more luminaires compared to the fresh installing below , which now has less luminaires but improved idle level , uniformness and calibre .
Improved light horizontal surface , uniformness and plant life performanceA downside to their old luminaire installation , was that it had discrepant light-headed levels and poor uniformness over the crop . Poor light uniformness can direct to plants drying out at different times , and let some plant developing quicker while others slower . Therefore , it was significant for Vineland that , despite their limited ceiling height , they attain high uniformity over the crop . With the fresh NXT - LP with alpha reflectors , they were surprised to see complete uniformness over the canopy when using a light meter . One of the amazing thing about retrofitting is that you’re able to achieve peachy light level , uniformity and energy efficiencies with fewer luminaires thanks to the efficiency of the NXT - LP and pattern of the reflectors . have high light uniformity leads to cracking plant productivity and makes it easy to equilibrise other environmental parameters in the greenhouse .
One of Vineland ’s labor has focused on breeding hardy roses for the Canadian market , and they are seeing improved plant performance , growth and uniformity under the new luminaires . base on dissimilar research project , their squad can be growing any turn of plants such as tropicals , cherubic potato , legumes , caryopsis crops and ornamentals―so stimulate a authentic lighting organization , worthy for a wide variety of crops , is important for their success . They also note that the light-headed timber has meliorate , with the new luminaires make a much cleaner and crisper look as fight back to the “ smoggy ” facial expression of the sometime lamps .
promiscuous maintenanceTo hold the highest execution of your luminaires , it ’s important to execute cyclic maintenance such as cleaning the reflectors . The sometime 400W luminaires call for a wad of spare maintenance to maintain optimum PAR levels , and Vineland was always having to replace failed luminaires . With P.L. Light System ’s well-off - to - sporty reflectors and dim-witted - to - install lamps , re - lamping and yearly cleaning has been made much loose for their team so they can uphold peak luminaire performance for year to occur .
As enquiry projects and programs ramp up in the make out months , they are unrestrained to see how the new luminaires will improve overall plant performance and growth , as well as help them keep open on energy cost and maintenance .
For more information : P.L. Light Systems4800 Hinan Dr. Beamsville , ONCanada L0R 1B1
thyroxine : 905.563.4133Toll Free : 1.800.263.0213F : 905.563.0445[email protected]www.pllight.com
