In research journal articles, I was looking for effect of light on microalgae cultivation in indoor photo-bioreactor. Light intensity has some optimum value, beyond that value photo damage may occur. I also got that color of light also has effect on growth rate.
My question is, if I want to design lighting system, which I have to find out first? Light intensity or light color? Or I have to find out both independently?
Hi Nilay Kumar Sarker,
In the past, I used 3 Klux fluorescent light for my photobioreactor and it showed very good growth of microalgae. Thus, based on my own experience (just my own), light intensity and illumination cycle are much more important than light color.
However, I would suggest you to go through this article:
Article Effects of light intensity, light quality, and illumination ...
All the best !
The light receptors in plants never works along. Sometimes the plant responses to one ontrolled light factor might be reversed when exposed to another light condtion. For example, the higher plant, stomatal opening can be promoted in light intensity higher than 400 umol.m-2.s-1, and this phenomenon could be reversed when leaves irradiated in red light condtion at a same PPFD. So I think, when designing an artifical lighting system, you should first make it clear what you want to know, or what you mainly study. Then according to it, you take the next step.
In case of microalgae both light intensity and wavelength matter. Type of light or the wavelength of light. in numerous studies red light have been reported desired for microalge cultivation.
For Intensity you must consider the penetration effect i.e. as the culture is grown density of the medium due increase in cell concentration will increase and hence will hinder the light reaching in the core of the reactor. So make sure that light is distributed homogeneously with optimum intensity which can be easily achieved by proper aeration and agitation system. In case your microalge is sheer sensitive you must look for the aeration and agitation rate.
For maximum growth:
1. Increase light dsitribution as density increases.
2. In microalgae photoinhibition occurs above 450 umol.m-2.s-1
3. Consider light color first with low intensity and then once you get the optimum color increase the intensity till the it reaches maximum productivity
Hope this helps
All the best !
Both comes first! You need to adjust them during cultivation since they may be different species (color may play critical advantage or disadvantage for a species) and abundance (the lignth need to more intense as the abundance in your culture increases). So this is a job to be done during cultivation. Once you did, then you may set a routine procedure which satifies your expectancies.
I think the light intensity is more important. The decrease in the growth if the light is not sufficient or excessive can be more drastic than using the undesirable light spectrum. While blue and red spectrum are shown to be used during photosynthesis, my experiences showed that cultivation under sunlight (or using similar spectrum for indoor cultivation) can result in better productivity.
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