CHLOROFEED

Nome del Beneficiario: Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro – Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti

Titolo del Progetto: Biofeedback system based on chlorophyll fluorescence to increase light use efficiency of vegetable crops

ACRONIMO: CHLOROFEED

Codice identificativo progetto 2023-UNBACLE-0242913

CUP: H93C23000750001

Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: AGR/04 - Orticoltura e floricoltura

Settore concorsuale: 07/B1 - Agronomia e sistemi colturali erbacei ed ortofloricoli

Durata del progetto: 1 anno

Importo del progetto finanziato: euro 10.000

Nome del destinatario: Dott. Palmitessa Onofrio Davide

Breve descrizione del progetto:

Greenhouse and indoor farming allow to increase yield and quality of year-round cultivation, but, to achieve high productivity and quality standards throughout the year, it is necessary to use artificial light. Currently, the management of artificial lighting is based on the daily amount of photosynthetically active radiation to be provided to plants during a specific photoperiod. However, this system of managing artificial radiation does not consider the plants' ability to efficiently utilize the provided radiation. At the core of the proposed research project, an analysis of the plant's photosynthetic efficiency will be conducted through the study of fluorescence. This analysis will lead to the creation of a biofeedback system based on real-time plant physiological measurements to reduce LED energy consumption and operational costs, while maintaining high crop yield. By maintaining high levels of photosynthetic efficiency, it will be possible to modulate light intensity, ensuring a more efficient utilization of the provided artificial radiation and consequently reducing the electrical energy consumed by the LEDs. During the project will be performed experimental trials, to study in which light conditions the photosynthesis efficiency of the crop tested will reach the maximum value and if photosynthesis efficiency will be affect by the crop phenological stage. Subsequently, it will be implemented a biofeedback system that basing on the photosynthesis efficiency value will be able to drive the LED artificial light emission, keeping always high photosynthesis efficiency. The resulting biofeedback system will increase the efficiency of artificial radiation use and will reduce electricity consumption by more than 50%.