Incorporating the effect of the photon spectrum on biomass accumulation of lettuce using a dynamic growth model

Abstract

Cultivation studies in specialty crop optimization utilize models to estimate the fresh and dry mass yield. However, the spectral distribution and photon flux density (μmol m-2 s-1) affect plant photosynthetic rate and morphology, which is usually not incorporated in plant growth models. In this study, using data for indoor-grown lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) cultivated under different light spectra, a mathematical model that incorporates these effects is presented. Different experimental cases are used to obtain a modified quantum use efficiency coefficient that varies with the spectral distribution. Several models for this coefficient are fitted using experimental data. Comparing the accuracy of these models, a simple first- or second-order linear model for light-use efficiency coefficient has about 6 to 8 percent uncertainty, while a fourth-order model has a 2 percent average error in prediction. In addition, normalizing overall spectral distribution leads to a more accurate prediction of the investigated parameter. A novel mathematical model based on normalized spectral irradiance integrated over wavelength for photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) wavebands and the far-red waveband is presented in this study. It accurately predicts lettuce dry mass grown indoors under different light spectra.