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July 4, 2014

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Home » Metro » Health and Science

Homegrown veg ... 3 times faster

By Cai Wenjun | July 4, 2014, Friday | Print Edition

AN LED-lit vegetable plot the size of a fish tank has been developed so that green vegetables can be cultivated at home three times quicker than they grow in nature.

One such “family farm” is being shown at the four-day Shanghai International Lighting Expo at the Shanghai New International Expo Center in the  Pudong New Area.

“LED lighting being used in the family farm is a new trend,” said Li Shuzhi, the product developer. “LED can give the spectrum that plants need for photosynthesis. And through controlling the lighting, growth can be sped up.”

“Experiments found green vegetables can be mature within 22 days under this environment, while it takes 62 days in natural conditions,” Li said.

“Tests found the nutritional value is not affected. The whole procedure only needs 1 kilowatt hour of electricity because of the low cost of LED.”

While the price of a family farm is 1,000 yuan (US$161), this is expected to drop, industry insiders said.

MetroHealth and Science


 

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