What i have read uptill now about the energy efficiency variations during photosynthesis,i.e., in lab condition it is nearly 35% and in natural conditions it is more or less about 5%. Why such a big difference arises, is their any specific reason behind it or not. Please explain because me not getting why this happening.
Lab conditions can be optimized in all respects, while natural conditions are usually far from optimum. As Remi Cornwall mentioned, in the lab red and blue light is used rather than sunlight. The green color of chlorophyll is unfortunate, since it reflects the peak of the solar spectrum. Even though auxiliary pigments such as carotene which do not reflect green can transfer some energy to chlorophyll, this is much less efficient than the use of only red and blue light. Actually highest efficiency is achieved by using only red light, which has barely enough energy per photon to drive photosynthesis. Blue light has almost twice as much as necessary and the excess tends to be wasted. But using both red and blue light plants grow faster, albeit at lower efficiency than using only red light. Also not only light but everything else can be optimized in the laboratory. Carbon dioxide can be boosted to the 1% to 3% optimum range, as opposed to the 0.04% outdoors. Water and required mineral elements can be supplied in optimum amounts and mineral elements in optimum chemical form in the laboratory. Plant roots don't have to fight through tough soils in the laboratory.
i think simply because in lab condition, we are giving everything and anything the plants require at the most optimum and conducive level. In contrast, the natural environment has more factors which the plants need to work out which one is good, which one is bad. they need to strategize whether to acclimate or not etc.
