Optimization of Micro Climatic Conditions and Evaluation of the Light Quality for Lettuce Varieties in internet of Things Based Vertical Drip Fertigation System

Abstract

Elevated ambient temperatures and increased solar radiation have resulted led to rapid wilting and death of terrestrial plants. This environmental stress has particularly affected lettuce (Lactuca sativa), a crop with significant commercial potential and market demand. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different light qualities on lettuce growth using two types of vertical drip fertigation systems: an automated system and a homemade system. The experiment utilized three lettuce varieties: 'Green coral', 'Crysta|', and 'Red coral' under two distinct lighting treatments. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with three treatments, each replicated five times. The treatments were: T1 (ControI), T2 (Horizontal LED Lighting), and T3 (Angled LED Lighting). Significant findings were observed for the 'Green coral' variety, which showed a statistically significant increase in plant height under the horizontal LED lighting treatment (0.018) The 'Crystal' variety, a significant difference was noted in wet weight under Treatment 2 (0.031), where horizontal LED lighting resulted in a markedly higher yield compared to the control and angled lighting setups. The 'Green coral' variety exhibited a significant increase in the number of leaves under the horizontal LED lighting after the third week of transplanting (P < 0.05). The 'Red coral' variety, significant differences in plant height were observed three weeks after transplantation (P < 0.05), with Treatment 2 showing substantial increases. The significance persisted into the fourth week (P <0.05), although the effect of increased LED illumination was not linear. The data suggests that two LED light strips provide optimal lighting conditions for promoting long-term growth in 'Red coral' lettuce. The results suggest that optimizingLBD light configurations can significantly enhance both vegetative and yield traits of lettuce plants