Benefits of real-time photosynthesis measurement are endless Quick summary The combination of plant data and environmental data from the various sensors in the climate chamber provide insight into photosynthesis Photosynthesis measurements are retrievable in real-time, without any knowledge of data analysis Certhon-written algorithms are now available to Certhon Control System users Quick summary The combination of plant data and environmental data from the various sensors in the climate chamber provide insight into photosynthesis Photosynthesis measurements are retrievable in real-time, without any knowledge of data analysis Certhon-written algorithms are now available to Certhon Control System users Share this article facebook twitter whatsapp linkedin For a plant to grow properly, you make sure it has enough light, water, and CO2 so that photosynthesis can take place. But what is more interesting is to know exactly how much light, water, and CO2 is needed, and at what time, to create the optimal growing conditions for the plant. Because with that knowledge, it is possible to achieve higher production and quality and improve resource use efficiency. About 3.5 years ago, Certhon began automatically measuring plant activity in the climate chambers at the Certhon Innovation Centre, where Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is conducted. All sensors present in the chambers, such as those for temperature, light intensity, CO2 level, and humidity, are logged on a 15-second basis with the Certhon Control System. This data contains a wealth of information, which is immediately accessible. Making photosynthesis transparent Data from the dosed amount of CO2 in the climate chamber is measured, combined, and analyzed with other data from the climate chamber. This includes data on the chamber volume, the leakage rate of the chamber, and changes in CO2 concentration. By combining all this data, photosynthesis can be understood. Highly accurate software in a proprietary dashboard environment With this knowledge, we have written algorithms that can measure photosynthesis in real-time in any climate chamber we build, in any condition. Specific knowledge about data analysis is not required to read and understand the information. This now standardized software has been extensively validated through plant-destructive dry matter measurements during various trials at the Certhon Innovation Centre. Meanwhile, the developed software has been incorporated into our dashboard environment and can thus be made accessible to users of Certhon climate chambers. With just one push of a button, the user gets all the information needed to increase production and optimize the use of resources. The benefits of automatically measuring photosynthesis are varied By combining photosynthesis measurements with other measurements from the climate chamber, extremely valuable cultivation knowledge can be gathered, such as; Quantifying the effects of various light spectra; The effectiveness and timing of CO2 dosing; Timing and intensity of the illumination. Cultivation trials in climate chambers are growing into an indispensable tool for the optimal use of resources in a greenhouse crop. And the application goes much further. For example, when evaluating new varieties during breeding, our photosynthesis measurements are of great value. Researchers can also benefit greatly from real-time measurement of photosynthesis. For example, the effects of extreme climate change on photosynthesis can be investigated in a more targeted way, and crop trials can be accelerated by gaining direct insight into the crop response in various conditions. In short; a lot is possible when it comes to measuring, analyzing, and quantifying photosynthesis in Certhon’s climate chambers. Curious? Our experts Jaap Weerheim and John van der Sande are happy to give a demo, please contact us without obligation at +31 174 225 080. Want to know more about testing at Certhon Innovation Centre? Learn more