The immediate goal of this project was to demonstrate the use of innovative lighting strategies to improve the productivity (especially winter production) of tomato growing in greenhouses at two sites. One site was a double-poly commercial tomato greenhouse in Eastern NY state. The second site was a glass research greenhouse on the Cornell University campus. The technical objectives of the project were to improve winter productivity in a commercial setting, with reduced unit production costs and energy content (Btu/lb) compared to imported tomatoes.
The experimental test plot at Cornell University tested three lighting conditions. A natural-light control plot, and two supplemental-lighted plots. The plots with supplemental lighting have different light intensities (100 mmol m2 s-1 and 250 mmol m2 s-1).
To view the final report on this project:Download Supplemental Lighting and CEA Tomato Production
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Greenhouse preparations and the commercial growing site for the tomato project
included installation of HPS lamps, light sensors, and a weather station.
Installation of lamps at the Cornell CEA tomato research test site.
