Introduction:

Due to the harsh temperatures and high humidity levels, horticulture has special difficulties in hot and humid places like GCC and the Gulf. This case study examines the methods used to enhance horticultural lighting in a greenhouse setting, putting a particular emphasis on environmentally friendly procedures and crop resilience.

Challenges:

1. Temperature Management: To keep plants from being stressed by the intense heat in GCC’s summers, the greenhouse’s temperature had to be carefully controlled.
2. Humidity Regulation: Humidity levels that were too high made crops more susceptible to fungus-related diseases.
3. Solar Radiation: To prevent plant sunburn and excessive moisture loss, careful control was required due to the solar radiation’s intensity.

Solution:

A thorough horticulture lighting optimisation plan was put in place by the greenhouse operator to solve the problems caused by the hot and humid climate:

1. Customized Light Spectrum: The lighting system’s spectrum was specifically created to meet the needs of various crops at various stages of growth. This strategy struck a balance between colour and light intensity to accommodate shifting climatic circumstances.
2. Energy-Efficient LED Lighting: High-quality LED lighting was chosen because of its low heat emission and energy efficiency, which has a negligible impact on the greenhouse’s additional heat burden.
3. Strategic Light Placement: In order to minimise direct contact with plant canopies during times of maximum sunlight, the lighting fixtures were placed in such a way as to minimise heat stress and the dangers of sunburn.
4. Humidity Control: Maintaining ideal moisture levels, reducing the risk of fungi diseases, and fostering healthy plant growth were all achieved with the integration of an efficient humidity management system.

Results:

The greenhouse operator reaped major benefits from the horticulture lighting optimisation plan’s adoption, including:

1. Improved Crop Health and Yield: The specialised light spectrum encouraged healthy plant growth, which led to higher crop yields and better crop quality.
2. Energy Efficiency: The greenhouse was able to save money by using less electricity thanks to the use of energy-efficient LED lights.
3. Year-Round Crop Production: The constraints of the hot and humid climate were overcome by the optimised lighting system, which allowed steady crop production throughout the year.
4. Sustainability and Resilience: The greenhouse displayed a dedication to sustainable agriculture practises and climate resilience by incorporating cutting-edge horticulture lighting techniques.

Conclusion:

This case study demonstrates how horticulture lighting in a hot, humid climate may be successfully optimised, demonstrating how a specific lighting strategy can support resilient crop growth. Agriculture will be more sustainable in the future because to the strategic application of technology and environmental considerations. Horticulture sectors operating in similarly difficult conditions can benefit from these ideas.