There is exploring the possibility of multi-tier cultivation of strawberries in the greenhouse in Belgium

In the experiment, new dimmable LED lights are used, which allows to align the light distribution over plants.

A new experiment on the cultivation of strawberries in the industrial greenhouse in four tiers began at the experimental station of the cooperative "Hoogstraten" (Belgium). From the bottom of the trays of the upper three tiers are LED lamps that compensate for shading the lower plants with trays above them. Multi-tiered cultivation is part of the GLITCH research project. This is a three-year project aimed at introducing higher technologies in greenhouse production. Documented measurements will be carried out regularly to assess the possibilities of growing strawberries in a four-tiered one.

Earlier at this station, experiments were conducted on the cultivation of strawberries with a two-tiered placement with additional lighting. This was the first step towards exploring new opportunities. In the modern glazed greenhouse, on a span of 8 m wide with 7 rows of plants, three more tiers of suspended trays were placed above each other. LED luminaires under the upper trays provide a luminous intensity of 30 µmol / m2 / s during the daylight hours. Such illumination made it possible to obtain the same yield on the lower tier as in the case of traditional cultivation in a greenhouse on suspended trays.

At the end of 2018, additional suspension trays were mounted in one of the sections of the experimental greenhouse in Hoogstraten. A large space above the lower tier is provided by the height of the columns at 7 m. Additional three tiers (24 rows of trays) increased the effective area more than three times. To equalize the distribution of light over the plants in this experiment, new dimmable LED lights are used.

The possibilities of a multilayer system for growing strawberries in autumn culture will be assessed for two, then a second harvest will follow in the spring, and one turn will be grown in the multilevel system in the summer. Obviously, the plants of the lower tiers will receive less natural light and more artificial, and therefore their development will differ from the plants of the upper tier, growing only with natural light. Scientists will evaluate the yield, caliber and quality of the berries. Changes in temperature and humidity due to high plant thickening and the use of LED lights will be monitored over tiers. At the end of the experiment, the results obtained will be compared with the results of the traditional growing system at one level.