SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPECIALIZING LIGHT SPECTRA AND OPTIMIZING PHOTOSYNTHETIC CAPACITY TO ADJUST PLANT DIURNAL CYCLE

A method for growing plants may start by identifying at least the species of one or more plants being grown and selecting a spectra shift recipe from a menu of spectra shift recipes for the one or more plants based on the species identification of the one or more plants. Next, light may be emitted on the one or more plants. The light being emitted may be selected according to the selected spectra shift recipe. The spectra shift recipes may include, for example, a plurality of durations and at least a spectral category for each time, and the spectral category may cycle from no light to blue peak and back at least one time.

FIELD

An exemplary embodiment relates to the field of controlled environment agriculture.

BACKGROUND

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) provides many advantages over traditional or conventional agricultural methods. For example, CEA may require a smaller footprint while producing a higher yield. The use of a controlled environment can allow variables such as light and temperature to be precisely specified. However, CEA still faces a number of challenges. For example, a risk of crop failure and a high risk of disease and virus outbreak still exists.

While CEA may improve growing speed when compared to traditional farms, improvements to expedite yield are still sought after. For example, providing the correct balance of nutrients may expedite growth of a plant, however, that may be specific to each varietal. However, current systems are not able to efficiently accelerate growth and development to meet demands.

Plants are typically adapted to the diurnal cycle of their natural environment. The day and night cycle of a plant may affect plant attributes. Processes such as respiration may occur at night when photosynthesis halts.

SUMMARY

According to at least one exemplary embodiment a system and method for growing plants may be described. A method for growing plants may start by identifying at least the species of one or more plants being grown and selecting a spectra shift recipe from a menu of spectra shift recipes for the one or more plants based on the species identification of the one or more plants. Next, light may be emitted on the one or more plants. The light being emitted may be selected according to the selected spectra shift recipe. The spectra shift recipes may include, for example, a plurality of times and at least a spectral category for each time, and the spectral category may cycle from no light to blue peak and back at least one time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Further, many of the embodiments described herein are described in terms of sequences of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that the various sequences of actions described herein can be performed by specific circuits (e.g. application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) and/or by program instructions executed by at least one processor. Additionally, the sequence of actions described herein can be embodied entirely within any form of computer-readable storage medium such that execution of the sequence of actions enables the at least one processor to perform the functionality described herein. Furthermore, the sequence of actions described herein can be embodied in a combination of hardware and software. Thus, the various aspects of the present invention may be embodied in a number of different forms, all of which have been considered to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. In addition, for each of the embodiments described herein, the corresponding form of any such embodiment may be described herein as, for example, “a computer configured to” perform the described action.

Referring to the figures generally, at least a method, system and apparatus for adjusting the diurnal cycle of a plant may be shown and described. Biological perceived photonic time (dark-light-dark cycle) of more than one day may be compressed into a single 24-hour period or expanded using spectral manipulation. Far red/red light (FR/R) at typical outdoor daily light integral begins a cycle and activates photosynthesis. The max photosynthetic rate (Amax) may be reached at a faster rate. Growth may be further accelerated by increasing the CO2level and concentrating the FR/R, Blue, Green, and UV-A spectrum at a specified day period in order of increasing energy intensity to decreasing energy intensity.

An exemplary embodiment may provide a method for increasing the rate at which the max photosynthetic rate of plants in a controlled environment is reached. The light shift may vary depending on species, origin, and genetics. A sensor system, which may include, for example, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) cameras, which may help identify the amount and overall health of live vegetation in an area by measuring, for example, chlorophyll production or photosynthetic rate (CO2assimilation rate). In other embodiments one or more plants may be tagged with, for example, RFID tags, and sensors may use the tags to identify the plants. An exemplary embodiment may be implemented on an integrated growing structure which may be vertical and can include artificial lights and/or natural lighting. The artificial lights may produce a specified light spectrum and/or intensity according to a specified schedule or recipe. The integrated growing structure or growing environment may be capable of increasing the amount of carbon dioxide around the plants. In an embodiment the artificial lights may be supplemented or augmented with the use of natural and/or filtered light.

In an exemplary embodiment, artificial lights on an integrated growing structure may be able to emit light in various spectrums and at various intensities, for example they may emit light on a portion of the FR/R light spectrum or emit light on a full light spectrum of an average summer day including UV light, or any other spectrum in between. The lights may, for example, go from no light, to far red light, to FR-R light, to FR-R light dominant spectrums that includes some blue light, to full spectrum light including UV, or anything in between as needed, and may also be able to increase or decrease the spectrum intensity. The lights may be able to move between spectrums at a specific rate, i.e. once, twice, three times a day etc. It may be understood that the rate may be variable depending on any number of factors. For example, it may increase more quickly as the day goes on or based on detected variables of the plants or growing facilities. In some embodiments the lights may be a specified blend of multiple spectrums, with the blend varying based on the schedule or recipe.

In an exemplary embodiment the lights moving between various light spectrums may emulate outdoor photonic time. As plants are exposed to FR/R of typical outdoor daily light integral (DLI) photosynthesis may be triggered. The lights may then ramp up through spectrum and intensity until they reach the spectrum of a full summer day including UV light, which may allow the plants to reach their max photosynthetic rate or “Amax”. Once the Amax is reached, the lights may then ramp back down to a portion of the FR/R spectrum or turn off, which may imitate an off or night period for the plants.

In an exemplary embodiment the light spectrum shift cycle may take 24 hours, thereby imitating a normal day. In other embodiments the spectrum shift cycle may be adjusted. For example, the spectrum shift cycle may be adjusted in duration, shorter or longer, and/or intensity. According to some exemplary embodiments the cycle may be adjusted to take less than 24 hours, for example there may be two cycles per day where each cycle takes 12 hours, thereby allowing for multiple “plant time perceived days” within one normal day. In other embodiments other cycle times may be used, for example 8 hours, 6 hours, or any other amount of time. In other embodiments the cycle may take longer than a day, for example 36 hours or 48 hours. Still further, the system may utilize a combination of varied cycle times. For example, in some embodiments a first cycle time may be used during an initial growth stage while a second cycle time may be used for a second growth stage, or the cycle time may be adjusted due to detected abnormalities in plant growth.

In an exemplary embodiment, CO2levels in the controlled environment may be increased in time with the changing light cycle in order to further promote plant growth. For example, CO2may be increased above atmospheric levels of 400 ppm. The increase in CO2may mimic the increasing light and may reach maximum concentration when the light is at maximum intensity and spectrum. Likewise, when the light spectrum and intensity decreases the CO2may also decrease and reach its minimum during the off or night cycle. In other embodiments the CO2may be adjusted independent of other factors such as the light.

In an exemplary, embodiment spectra shift recipes may be developed, which may include the spectra shift time period, rate of decrease or increase, what specific light spectra are used, how long the full light or night periods are, the intensity of the light, etc. The spectra shift recipes may be tailored to fit a specific crop species, crop origin, crop genetic, morphological or biomass objectives or group of any of these. In some embodiments a plurality of recipes may be developed and stored, for example in a database, which may then be accessed when determining a recipe to use on a specific plant or group of plants.

In an exemplary embodiment plants may be bred to favor specific light cycle genes, for example some plants may have long day (LD) genes, while others may have short day (SD) genes. SD gene plants may be compatible with shortened day cycles, and so plants with SD genes may be selectively bred for optimal utilization of shorter cycles. Furthermore, other traits that are compatible with spectra shifts may be selectively bred for, for example, plants that are used to living in extreme north latitudes may be better adopted for shorter day cycles. In some embodiments the SD/LD photoperiod of a plant may be a driver of the generative phase of plant growth. Therefore, the alternative lighting spectrum may allow for expediting the growth cycle while managing floral cues. In some embodiments shortening night cycles below a plant's critical period may create an artificial LD even if the day is shortened.

In an exemplary embodiment a monitoring or sensor system, such as a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) camera may be used to monitor the plants by, for example detecting the amount of live vegetation in a given area or by detecting the amount of chlorophyll produced in a plant or the photosynthetic rate of the plant to indicate overall health, and using that to infer when Amax is reached. In other embodiments different sensors or systems may be used, for example a portable photosynthesis system. Feedback from the sensor system may facilitate changes or adjustments to be dynamically made to the spectra shift recipe as the plants grow. For example, if Amax is reached faster than expected then the cycle time may be dynamically shortened.

In an exemplary embodiment the method for specializing light spectra may be used, for example, for fast generation of small plants, growing perennial berries, speed breeding. Furthermore, the small plant may be cloned to preserve its genetics, particularly where the plant has been bred to be compatible with the shortened photonic time.

In an exemplary embodiment genetics may be selected that are well adapted for a specific cycle time. For example, varieties of plants that perform well at a highly positive or negative latitude may be well adapted to these shifts. Furthermore, other traits, such as stomatal density, may be bred for in order to increase cycle time compatibility.

In an exemplary embodiment the plants may be grown in a structure that maximizes the use of spectral shifts, thereby allowing for greater scalability. Furthermore, the system may be implemented or arranged such that it can be tailored to one or more unique species within a grow environment.

In an exemplary embodiment, the spectral shift recipe may take place in an integrated growing structure or environment, which may be able to manipulate other environmental conditions in order to maximize plant growth and/or plant response to the spectra shift recipes. Conditions manipulated may include, but are not limited to, temperature, relative humidity, soil type, CO2levels, nutrient concentrations and proportions, etc. These conditions may be selected to maximize desired plant growth and development outcomes. Conditions may be constant or may change according to or in step with other changes to the spectra shift recipe such as light intensity.

Referring now toFIG.1,FIG.1. may show an exemplary system for specializing light spectra and optimizing photosynthetic capacity100. The system100may contain a plurality of plants102. The plurality of plants102may be contained in a controlled environment104, such as an indoor grow room or a vertical growing structure in order to maximize growth efficiency. The system100may further have a plurality of lights106which are able to shift between multiple spectrums, including at least FR/R and the spectrum of, for example, a full summer day. There may also be one or more sensors108, such as an NDVI camera, heat sensors, humidity sensors, CO2detectors, atmospheric sensors, other cameras, etc. which may detect plant health during growth.

Referring now toFIG.2,FIG.2may show an exemplary method for specializing light spectra and optimizing photosynthetic capacity200. In a step202a spectra shift recipe may be determined for one or more plants being grown.

In some embodiments the spectra shift recipe may be selected from a menu or plurality of spectra shift recipes. The determination or selection may be based on one or more factors including, but not limited to, the species of the plant being grown, the geographic location the plant is from, the genetics or genetic modifications of the plant, the age or stage of growth of the plant, or other external factors such as a targeted growth completion date or expected demand for a time or area. In some embodiments the spectra shift recipe may be automatically selected by a computer system or other device. The computer system or other device might further have access to one or more databases, for example a spectra recipe database, an expected demand database or a database with sale order amounts and dates.

In a step204the light may start with a FR/R light spectrum that emulates typical outdoor DLI, which may start photosynthesis of the plants being grown. In a step206the light may ramp up through light spectra according to the spectra recipe, and the CO2may be increased as called for in the spectra recipe. In a step208the lights may reach the full day light spectrum and may stay at full light for a period of time according to the spectra shift recipe. In a step210the lights may ramp back down to FR/R spectrum light according to the spectra recipe, and CO2may be decreased as called for in the spectra recipe. In a step212the lights may reach an off or night period, and may stay in the off period for a period of time according to the spectra shift recipe. Finally, after the off period the lights may return to step204and repeat the process until the spectra shift recipe is finished, for example at the time plant growth is finished.

Referring now toFIG.3,FIG.3may show an exemplary accelerated spectral cycle timetable300. The timetable300may show actual time inside the facility302, for example starting at 0:00 and going through an entire day in one hour increments. The timetable300may also show spectral intensity304being emitted by the lights at any given time, such as whether the spectral intensity is low, high, peak, etc. The timetable300may further show a spectral category306of the light being emitted by the lights. The spectral category may be, for example, FR, FR-R, FR-R dominating, UV blue increasing, UV blue peak, or UV blue decreasing. The timetable300may further show how much UV light308is being emitted by the lights. The UV light308being emitted may be, for example, low, high, or peak. Finally, the timetable300may show how many biologically perceived days310have passed for plants inside the facility. For example, after one full spectral cycle has passed the plants may be on their second perceived day310, even if a full day of actual time has not passed.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art (for example, features associated with certain configurations of the invention may instead be associated with any other configurations of the invention, as desired).