For decades, the farming community in the United Kingdom has been under stress. Farmers rely largely on subsidies to make ends meet while retail competition always keeps prices low. They are increasingly looking to technology to boost output, save expenses, and uncover untapped markets. LED lighting is one example of a technology with unforeseen benefits. Here, we examine how LEDs are shaking up the agricultural sector.
Effortless Cost Control
The supermarkets in the UK engage in a pricing war, resulting in artificially low food prices. Farmers, who sometimes have to sell their wares for less than they cost to produce, are on the receiving end of this unfair system. Many rely significantly on subsidies; however, as a result of Brexit, these subsidies are shifting and will be phased out over the next several years, replaced by a new plan that places far more emphasis on landowners utilizing their property to promote and protect the environment.
Farmers in this type of environment need to maximize productivity on their crops. They are accomplishing this in some ways, one of which is by switching to LEDs from fluorescent and halogen bulbs. Those that use vast indoor rooms for livestock or plant and vegetable cultivation may realize an 80% reduction in their lighting costs after switching to LEDs. LEDs consume 80% less energy and emit 80% less CO2 because they convert most of their energy into light rather than heat.
How LEDs Increase Milk Supply
Farmers may solve the shortage by finding strategies to increase output as milk is one of the key items sold at a loss. A recent study found that cows produce the most milk when they are exposed to light for 16–18 hours each day at levels of brightness between 160 and 200 lux at the very least, then 6 hours of exposure to a lower level of light. It is believed that this exposure to light raises the cows’ levels of the hormone prolactin, which is in charge of milk production. Cows with 16 to 18 hours of light per day can produce up to two liters of milk more than those with only 13 hours of light per day.
Sheds must be constantly and evenly illuminated at 160–200 lux during the lighter periods and at roughly 50 lux during the darker hours to obtain these greater yields. If this were implemented, farms’ energy consumption would grow dramatically; however, if LEDs were used instead, this would not be the case. The price would be less than what it would cost to keep the shed illuminated with fluorescent lights for 13 hours.
The fact that LEDs are dimmable is another perk. This allows for precise scheduling, and lux levels may be monitored using sensors. Even better, they may be programmed to adjust their brightness based on the amount of available sunlight, so maintaining uniformity while reducing energy consumption and associated expenses.
Enhancing Plant Growth and Productivity
The weather in the United Kingdom necessitates the use of artificial illumination, such as fluorescent and metal-halide bulbs, in order to speed up the growth process and increase yields. However, there are a number of drawbacks to utilizing this type of lighting, including the fact that it is costly to operate and isn’t very efficient and that it may not offer the exact wavelength or intensity of light that a particular crop requires for optimal growth.
There are several advantages to using LEDs to replace fluorescent and metal-halide lighting for indoor plant cultivation. One recent study found that LED-grown wheat outperformed fluorescent-grown wheat in terms of both production and quality, while also reducing lighting energy use by 80%. Photosynthesis, tiller count, biomass, and yield were all improved by the LEDs’ capacity to produce more intense light.
The fact that LEDs could have their color temperature and output altered was an added bonus. Improvements in starch and protein content were achieved because different sections of the spectrum had varied effects on the plants at different phases of development. It’s possible that many other types of crops can reap the same rewards.
Less Work to Maintain
It takes a lot of light bulbs to illuminate large indoor rooms used for raising animals or cultivating plants in bulk. It might take a while to replace them, especially if they are up high. LEDs are practical in this context due to their significantly longer lifespan, typically about 50,000 hours. This reduced need to replace bulbs frequently also reduces the associated costs of doing so. Also crucial is the fact that LEDs are far cooler than conventional kinds of illumination, reducing the risk of fire.
In Conclusion
The agricultural sector in the UK stands to benefit greatly from the use of LEDs. Not only may they help farmers save money on electricity and lower their carbon impact, but they can also increase milk production and crop yields without sacrificing quality.
