Method and device for cultivation of crops
AssigneeBlue Skies 1989 B.V.
InventorsGerardus Johannes Jozef Maria Meeuws, Cornelia Henrica Petronella Maria Meeuws-Aben, Marc Kreuger
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Abstract
In a device a crop is cultivated in an at least substantially daylight-free environment, wherein the crop is exposed in an at least substantially fully conditioned cultivation space (10) to actinic artificial light from an array of artificial light sources (30) present in the cultivation space. During a cultivation cycle a power output of the artificial light sources (30) is adapted to an energy absorption of a part of the crop (50) illuminated thereby such that the crop close to each of the array of artificial light sources is subject to an at least substantially constant and at least substantially mutually equal vapour deficit.
Claims19
Method for cultivating a crop, in particular in an at least substantially daylight-free environment, said environment comprising an at least substantially fully conditioned cultivation space, an air inlet and an air outlet for directing an at least substantially laminar airflow through said cultivation space, and comprising an array of artificial light sources in a direction between said air inlet and said air outlet, wherein the crop is exposed in said at least substantially fully conditioned cultivation space to actinic artificial light, particularly comprising photo synthetically active radiation (PAR), emitted by an artificial light source from said array of artificial light sources present in the cultivation space, characterized in that an at least substantially laminar air flow is directed through said cultivation space in said direction from said air inlet to said air outlet, in that during a cultivation cycle a power output of the artificial light sources is adapted to an energy absorption of a part of the crop illuminated thereby such that the crop is subject to a mutually at least substantially equal vapour deficit near to each artificial light source of said array of artificial light sources.
Device for producing crops, in particular in an at least substantially daylight-free environment, comprising an at least substantially fully conditioned cultivation space between an air inlet and an air outlet for an at least substantially laminar airflow, comprising an air treatment installation for maintaining and, if desired, treating said laminar airflow, comprising an array of light fittings in a direction between said air inlet and said air outlet, wherein said light fittings are present in the cultivation space and comprise one or more artificial light sources which are able and configured to generate actinic artificial light, particularly comprising photo synthetically active radiation (PAR), and to expose the crop thereto, characterized in that each of the fittings is provided with controllable cooling means with which a power output of the artificial light sources is adaptable during a cultivation cycle to an energy absorption of a part of the crop illuminated thereby such that the crop close to each fitting of the array of fittings is subject to an at least substantially constant vapour deficit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.