Lethbridge Polytechnic researcher eyes light optimization for greenhouses

Seyed Hashemi, a researcher at Lethbridge Polytechnic, is taking his love of plants to a new level.

A researcher at Lethbridge Polytechnic is taking his love of plants to a new level as he looks into plant stresses and ways to influence how they feel in different environments.

Seyed Hashemi says knowing how plants interact with different environments is helpful for producers in managing growth cycles, including planting times, watering and fertilizer schedules and crop rotations.

He’s now completing research on light optimization for greenhouses and comparing industrial LEDs, horticultural LEDs and high-pressure sodium lights inside the 10,000-square-foot greenhouse at the polytechnic.

The project will measure lighting on cucumbers, tomatoes and bell peppers.

“By adjusting and optimizing the climate condition in a way that plants can perform better and the fruit quality goes up, we will achieve our goals,” Hashemi said.

“We are trying to understand what is the best climate condition that plants are feeling good and producing high-quality fruits.”

He hopes to have the research completed by late next year and to share his findings with producers across the region.