Reduced Infestations with Grow Lights

In the agriculture sector of the Philippines, farmers often struggle with managing pests and diseases due to their heavy reliance on chemical pesticides. However, excessive use of these chemicals can damage the environment, lead to pest resistance, and raise issues regarding food safety.

An emerging solution to this problem lies in grow lights that are used in indoor farming and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to grow stronger and healthier plants that are naturally more resilient to pests and diseases. 

Grow lights, particularly LED, offer a precise and customizable light spectrum that enhances plant growth. Unlike traditional farming methods, which rely on natural sunlight that can vary in intensity and spectrum, grow lights can be tuned to provide the exact wavelengths that plants need for optimal growth. By promoting healthy growth, these lights help plants develop stronger structural defenses, such as thicker cell walls and more vigorous root systems, which can naturally deter pests and pathogens.

One of the biggest advantages of using grow lights in indoor farms is the ability to maintain a controlled environment that is isolated from external threats like pests, fungi, and bacteria. In traditional outdoor farming, plants are constantly exposed to pests and diseases due to weather conditions, neighboring crops, and fluctuating environmental factors. In contrast, indoor farms using grow lights can regulate factors like temperature, humidity, and light, minimizing the chance of pest infestation or disease transmission.

This isolation reduces the need for frequent pesticide applications since pests have a harder time accessing plants in a controlled indoor environment. In addition to that, diseases caused by fungi and bacteria that thrive in humid conditions can be mitigated by precisely controlling the environmental conditions, such as air circulation and moisture levels, which are difficult to regulate outdoors. 

Research has shown that plants grown under LED grow lights are more resistant to environmental stressors and pest infestations. A study on tomatoes grown under LED lighting demonstrated that plants could develop thicker stems and leaves, which helped naturally ward off insect pests without chemical intervention. Similarly, indoor-grown strawberry plants showed lower incidences of fungal infections, thanks to the controlled environment and improved plant immune response.

NutriHydro proudly cultivates crops without the use of pesticides and remains committed to supporting pesticide-free cultivation methods for a healthier and more sustainable future.

References:

Lazzarin, M., Meisenburg, M., Meijer, D., Van Ieperen, W., Marcelis, L., Kappers, I., Van Der Krol, A., Van Loon, J., & Dicke, M. (2020). LEDs make it resilient: Effects on plant growth and defense. Trends in Plant Science, 26(5), 496–508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2020.11.013 

Pomoni, D. I., Koukou, M. K., Vrachopoulos, M. G., & Vasiliadis, L. (2023). A review of hydroponics and conventional agriculture based on energy and water consumption, environmental impact, and land use. Energies, 16(4), 1690. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041690 

Santiago, R., Barros-Rios, J., & Malvar, R. A. (2013). Impact of cell wall composition on maize resistance to pests and diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 14(4), 6960–6980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms14046960 

Paucek, I., Pennisi, G., Pistillo, A., Appolloni, E., Crepaldi, A., Calegari, B., Spinelli, F., Cellini, A., Gabarrell, X., Orsini, F., & Gianquinto, G. (2020). Supplementary LED interlighting improves yield and precocity of greenhouse tomatoes in the Mediterranean. Agronomy, 10(7), 1002. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10071002 

Wang, D., Dawadi, B., Qu, J., & Ye, J. (2022). Light-Engineering technology for enhancing plant disease resistance. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.805614 

Smith, B. J., Rezazadeh, A., Stafne, E. T., & Sakhanokho, H. F. (2022). Effect of Light-emitting Diodes, Ultraviolet-B, and Fluorescent Supplemental Greenhouse Lights on Strawberry Plant Growth and Response to Infection by the Anthracnose Pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. HortScience, 57(8), 856–863. https://doi.org/10.21273/hortsci16591-22