Narrowband photosynthetically active radiation (“PAR”) substantially only at each of multiple emission wavelengths yields good photosynthesis at reduced energy cost
Produced PAR neither replicates the spectral bandwidth of sunlight at the surface of the earth, nor the absorption spectrum of green plants, nor the absorption spectrum of photosynthetic processes, but—based on discovery that PAR at only a number of unique wavelengths is optimally energy-efficient to promote normal or better plant growth—instead desirably concentrates PAR emissions in a limited number, preferably about nine (9), narrow bands. Narrowband, even extremely narrowband, radiation is preferred at 430 and 662 nanometers wavelength (first and second absorption peaks of chlorophyll A); 453 and 642 nanometers wavelength (first and second absorption peaks of chlorophyll B); and still other wavelengths (only). Preferably more than 50% of the total PAR flux is within a total bandwidth of less than 160 nanometers wavelength in the range between 360 and 760 nanometers wavelength, and more preferably 90% of the PAR flux is within a total bandwidth of less than 80 nanometers wavelength within this range. When the intensity of the PAR flux in these narrow bands is, as is preferred, only but that occurring within the normal solar spectrum, then tremendous energy savings are innately realized in production of the new-spectrum PAR, ranging to ¾ and more from previous PAR. Moreover, the new-spectrum multi-narrow-band PAR is electrically efficiently produced using narrowband-emission LEDs.
1 . An energy-conserving method of applying photosynthetically active radiation (“PAR”) effective for photosynthesis to plants, the method comprising:
applying PAR to plants in a multiplicity of narrowband emissions within a range from 360 to 760 nanometers wavelength; wherein
each of the multiplicity of narrowband emissions has a PAR flux and more than 50% of the PAR flux at each of said multiplicity of narrowband emissions is within a bandwidth of 10 nanometers wavelength or less containing a corresponding local emission peak; and wherein
more than 50% of a total of the PAR flux for the multiplicity of narrowband emissions is applied within a maximum total bandwidth of 150 nanometers wavelength or less, and a remaining bandwidth of 250 nanometers between 360 and 760 nanometers receives less than 50% the total PAR flux from the multiplicity of the narrowband emissions.
2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the applying of PAR comprises:
a first-applying PAR including a wavelength of 430 nanometers that is a first absorption peak of chlorophyll A;
a second-applying PAR including a wavelength of 662 nanometers that is a second absorption peak of chlorophyll A;
a third-applying PAR including a wavelength of 453 nanometers that is a first absorption peak of chlorophyll B; and
a fourth-applying PAR including a wavelength of 642 nanometers that is a second absorption peak of chlorophyll B.
3 . The method according to claim 2 wherein the applying of PAR comprises:
a fifth-applying PAR including a wavelength of 450 nanometers that is a first absorption peak of beta carotene;
a sixth-applying PAR including a wavelength of 480 nanometers that is a second absorption peak of beta carotene.
4 . The method according to claim 3 wherein the applying of PAR comprises:
a seventh-applying PAR including a wavelength of 620 nanometers that is an absorption peak of phycocyanin.
5 . The method according to claim 4 wherein the applying of PAR comprises:
an eighth-applying PAR including a wavelength of 670 nanometers that is a first wavelength involved in the Emerson effect;
a ninth-applying PAR including a wavelength of 700 nanometers that is a second wavelength involved in the Emerson effect.
6 . The method according to claim 2 wherein each of (1) the first-applying, and (2) a majority of the third-applying through the ninth-applying, is of PAR that is within 50% of a same energy.
7 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the second-applying is of PAR that is within 50% of twice, ×2, a radiative energy that is within each of the first-applying, and a majority of the third-applying through the ninth-applying.
8 . An energy-conserving method of applying photosynthetically active radiation (“PAR”) effective for photosynthesis to plants, the method comprising:
applying PAR to plants in a multiplicity of narrowband emissions between 360 and 760 nanometers wavelengths so that more than 80% of a total PAR flux is applied within a maximum total bandwidth of only 150 nanometers wavelength or less, a remaining bandwidth of 250 nanometers between 360 and 760 nanometers receives less than 20% the total PAR flux from said multiplicity of narrowband emissions; wherein
less than 20% of the total PAR flux falls within a bandwidth of at least 250 nanometers wavelength; and wherein
a minimum of 80% of the total PAR flux falls within 150/400=⅜ths of a PAR bandwidth between 360 and 760 nanometers leaving that a maximum of 20% of the total PAR flux falling within a 250/400=⅝ths of the PAR bandwidth between 360 and 760 nm.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the minimum 80% of the total PAR flux that is applied to the maximum total bandwidth is applied as a multiplicity of at least 8 narrowband artificial light sources each in a spectral range from 360 nanometers to 760 nanometers wavelength where each light source emits radiation flux within a bandwidth no wider than 10 nanometers; and wherein
more than 50% of the applied PAR is within a maximum of 20% of the bandwidth between 360 nm and 760 nm.
10 . A method of applying photosynthetically active radiation (“PAR”) effective for photosynthesis to plants, the method comprising:
applying PAR to plants in a multiplicity of four or more narrowband emissions between 360 and 760 nanometers wavelengths wherein these four or more narrowband emissions both (1) total in combination more than 80% of a total PAR flux applied, and (2) the more than 80% of the total PAR flux is applied within a maximum total bandwidth of only 150 nanometers wavelength or less; and wherein
a remaining 250 nanometers bandwidth between 360 and 760 nanometers receives less than 20% of the total PAR flux applied.
11 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the applying of PAR to plants includes the narrowband emmisions being more than 4 but 15 or less in number.
12 . The energy-conserving method according to claim 8 , wherein applying PAR to plants includes the narrowband emissions being more than 4 but 15 or less in number.
13 . The method of applying photosynthetical ly active radiation (“PAR”) effective for photosynthesis to plants according to claim 10 , wherein applying PAR to plants includes the four or more narrowband emissions being 15 or less in number.