ABE 62 Environmental Control Engineering

Problem Set 3 – Estimating Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) and Daily Light Integral (DLI)
in a Greenhouse

NOTE: You must have attended/watched/read Lecture 9 – Greenhouse light and lighting

Introduction
In commercial greenhouses, several strategies can be used to help properly manage light levels
throughout the day and seasonally. Some of the primary reasons why greenhouse operators manipulate
light levels include: temperature and irrigation management, photoperiod control, minimizing crop stress,
and optimizing photosynthesis. Supplemental lighting with high-intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting
diode (LED) lamps can increase the light intensity a crop receives and improve and accelerate its growth
and development. Retractable shade curtains and whitewash can reduce and scatter light intensity to
create a more desirable growing environment during high-light periods.
Natural light varies considerably. However, it is not measured inside the greenhouse on a continuous
basis. If global radiation data is available, PAR and DLI can be estimated. With such estimates,
supplemental lighting requirement can be also established and calculated.

Objectives
1. To estimate PAR and DLI in a greenhouse; and
2. To determine light and lighting requirements for selected crops and greenhouse glazing materials.

Procedure
1. Choose one (1) greenhouse crop from the table below:

Table 1: Selected greenhouse crops and their lighting requirement and growing period
Greenhouse crop Lighting requirement, Growing period, days
mol/m2-day
Tomato 26 100
Strawberry 20 120
Eggplant 30 150
Bell pepper 19 90
Broccoli 28 100

2. Use your birthday as your planting date. Assign your date of planting as Day 0. From Day 0 to
harvest (see growing period in the given table), and with the average daily global radiation (Rs in
W/m2) and sunshine duration (SD in minutes) from the National Agromet Station (Table 2), use a
spreadsheet software to determine the following:
a. Light transmission and growlight (in W/m2) through a GH glazing of
i. glass (90%);
ii. polycarbonate panel (75%);
iii. acrylic panel (86%); and
iv. polyfilm (88%).
b. PAR (in μmol/m2-s) through all the above GH glazing material; and
c. DLI (in mol/m2-day) through all the above GH glazing material.
Note: For consistency, use the following conversion factors,
4.184 J = 1 cal 4.57 μmol = 1 J
1 MJ = 106 J 1 mol = 106 μmol

3. Based on the data that you just analyzed:

a. Decide which glazing material is most appropriate to use. Justify your answer.
b. Is there a need for supplemental lighting for your chosen crop. Justify your answer. If YES, give
an estimate of the needed DLI from artificial lamps.
4. Submit your spreadsheet file and answers to #2 and 3 via Google classroom with the filename
[LastName Pset3].

Agrometeorology, Biostructures and Environment Engineering Division (ABSEED)

Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (IABE)
College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT)
Copy this in the first page of your answer sheet (excel file) and affix your signature.
“I hereby declare that the work being submitted is my original work (i.e. not copied
from other students and other sources) and I have not shared it with another student.
I understand that any academic dishonesty may be sanctioned based on University
Rules.”
Name and signature
Date

Table 2. Average daily SR and SD

4-year average values

Date SR, W/m2 SD, min
JAN 1 154.454 235.5
JAN 2 125.689 133.5
JAN 3 157.251 144.0
JAN 4 190.956 175.5
JAN 5 225.302 363.0
JAN 6 195.253 366.0
JAN 7 137.445 102.0
JAN 8 153.837 177.0
JAN 9 156.004 177.0
JAN 10 193.123 376.5
JAN 11 179.830 166.5
JAN 12 174.261 207.0
JAN 13 192.457 313.5
JAN 14 175.181 318.0
JAN 15 205.810 268.5
JAN 16 169.624 315.0
JAN 17 230.665 462.0
JAN 18 183.849 346.5
JAN 19 170.859 204.0
JAN 20 191.888 199.5
JAN 21 199.696 232.5
JAN 22 197.142 124.5
JAN 23 269.539 348.0
JAN 24 166.391 159.0
JAN 25 207.977 216.0
JAN 26 171.149 214.5
JAN 27 180.762 277.5
JAN 28 229.321 373.5
JAN 29 206.125 219.0
JAN 30 241.682 298.5
JAN 31 225.616 316.5
FEB 1 235.798 406.5
FEB 2 218.800 348.0
FEB 3 220.350 393.0
FEB 4 181.052 358.5
FEB 5 209.491 310.5
FEB 6 169.927 178.5
FEB 7 206.101 237.5
FEB 8 169.551 180.0
FEB 9 222.820 291.0
FEB 10 262.686 529.5
FEB 11 269.539 465.0
FEB 12 246.609 484.5
FEB 13 215.399 346.5
FEB 14 188.788 222.0
FEB 15 173.946 214.5
FEB 16 237.674 412.5
FEB 17 211.367 339.0
FEB 18 211.077 354.0
FEB 19 181.694 274.5

Agrometeorology, Biostructures and Environment Engineering Division (ABSEED)

Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (IABE)
College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT)
FEB 20 203.958 328.5
FEB 21 209.515 358.5
FEB 22 214.152 364.5
FEB 23 283.316 546.0
FEB 24 245.701 412.5
FEB 25 239.188 382.5
FEB 26 220.665 325.5
FEB 27 222.820 371.5
FEB 28 241.064 439.5
MAR 1 241.379 358.5
MAR 2 207.977 301.5
MAR 3 209.212 324.0
MAR 4 271.391 522.0
MAR 5 208.280 313.5
MAR 6 242.009 355.5
MAR 7 255.931 444.0
MAR 8 293.921 529.5
MAR 9 271.379 436.5
MAR 10 226.851 327.0
MAR 11 263.958 421.5
MAR 12 329.551 598.5
MAR 13 291.803 499.5
MAR 14 287.468 463.5
MAR 15 255.604 433.5
MAR 16 253.134 391.5
MAR 17 244.781 403.5
MAR 18 266.137 414.5
MAR 19 324.890 619.5
MAR 20 319.635 573.0
MAR 21 295.507 585.0
MAR 22 318.086 489.0
MAR 23 295.204 495.0
MAR 24 285.265 465.0
MAR 25 302.953 508.5
MAR 26 287.783 462.0
MAR 27 304.490 496.5
MAR 28 312.214 538.5
MAR 29 307.565 490.5
MAR 30 284.381 453.0
MAR 31 231.294 346.5
APR 1 268.304 462.0
APR 2 287.166 460.5
APR 3 222.820 436.5
APR 4 263.340 342.0
APR 5 252.202 469.5
APR 6 255.616 490.5
APR 7 303.558 595.5
APR 8 317.771 592.5
APR 9 305.737 583.5
APR 10 305.108 555.0
APR 11 306.028 492.0
APR 12 291.803 534.0
APR 13 315.943 660.0
APR 14 318.098 616.5
APR 15 267.057 435.0
APR 16 295.507 475.5
APR 17 281.899 535.5
APR 18 286.234 579.0
APR 19 276.657 534.0
APR 20 255.919 466.5
APR 21 242.626 457.5
APR 22 257.783 504.0
APR 23 306.342 544.5
APR 24 284.369 475.5
APR 25 290.253 529.5
APR 26 270.459 468.0
APR 27 241.694 315.0
APR 28 264.272 331.5

Agrometeorology, Biostructures and Environment Engineering Division (ABSEED)

Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (IABE)
College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT)
APR 29 250.350 363.0
APR 30 234.575 423.0
MAY 1 250.665 379.5
MAY 2 290.870 469.5
MAY 3 319.950 529.5
MAY 4 292.420 496.5
MAY 5 239.527 315.0
MAY 6 277.868 439.5
MAY 7 226.524 337.5
MAY 8 269.841 376.5
MAY 9 281.887 447.0
MAY 10 297.650 460.5
MAY 11 278.812 406.5
MAY 12 242.009 361.5
MAY 13 188.788 334.5
MAY 14 221.585 246.0
MAY 15 224.684 388.5
MAY 16 257.456 270.0
MAY 17 249.430 361.5
MAY 18 242.917 283.5
MAY 19 217.251 226.5
MAY 20 242.626 439.5
MAY 21 195.895 231.0
MAY 22 211.682 298.5
MAY 23 233.195 412.5
MAY 24 260.265 459.0
MAY 25 245.084 382.5
MAY 26 250.035 339.0
MAY 27 254.999 411.0
MAY 28 268.909 420.0
MAY 29 253.147 424.5
MAY 30 235.193 399.0
MAY 31 223.135 322.5
JUN 1 267.674 439.5
JUN 2 283.449 466.5
JUN 3 250.665 415.5
JUN 4 259.636 367.5
JUN 5 297.057 498.0
JUN 6 242.614 426.0
JUN 7 266.742 462.0
JUN 8 237.348 382.5
JUN 9 244.164 445.5
JUN 10 300.120 553.5
JUN 11 266.754 478.5
JUN 12 285.895 487.5
JUN 13 229.430 273.0
JUN 14 271.694 403.5
JUN 15 222.505 334.5
JUN 16 257.469 370.5
JUN 17 203.328 294.0
JUN 18 247.529 292.5
JUN 19 251.585 360.0
JUN 20 247.263 472.5
JUN 21 177.348 196.5
JUN 22 194.672 196.5
JUN 23 229.612 333.0
JUN 24 266.427 343.5
JUN 25 200.241 276.0
JUN 26 258.401 348.0
JUN 27 283.449 438.0
JUN 28 233.970 181.5
JUN 29 275.096 453.0
JUN 30 205.181 267.0
JUL 1 245.713 375.0
JUL 2 260.047 465.0
JUL 3 229.926 289.5
JUL 4 221.573 263.3
JUL 5 256.851 319.5

Agrometeorology, Biostructures and Environment Engineering Division (ABSEED)

Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (IABE)
College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT)
 JUL 6 262.105 357.0
JUL 7 260.253 432.0
JUL 8 233.946 334.5
JUL 9 246.028 408.0
JUL 10 251.900 409.5
JUL 11 219.115 259.5
JUL 12 176.730 145.5
JUL 13 160.944 132.0
JUL 14 201.161 193.5
JUL 15 240.132 252.0
JUL 16 201.464 172.5
JUL 17 177.360 244.5
JUL 18 206.137 259.5
JUL 19 213.837 298.5
JUL 20 243.231 382.5
JUL 21 279.430 331.5
JUL 22 305.422 565.5
JUL 23 226.222 447.0
JUL 24 222.820 444.0
JUL 25 241.694 352.5
JUL 26 230.858 184.5
JUL 27 226.851 346.5
JUL 28 228.704 219.0
JUL 29 235.519 297.0
JUL 30 203.316 303.0
JUL 31 205.810 210.0
AUG 1 173.946 136.5
AUG 2 238.280 253.5
AUG 3 239.829 288.0
AUG 4 183.171 175.5
AUG 5 178.885 127.5
AUG 6 189.103 162.0
AUG 7 205.810 162.0
AUG 8 225.616 304.5
AUG 9 229.236 261.0
AUG 10 279.127 405.0
AUG 11 289.950 420.0
AUG 12 255.289 352.5
AUG 13 199.006 186.0
AUG 14 193.740 141.0
AUG 15 207.662 213.0
AUG 16 206.428 243.0
AUG 17 161.888 106.5
AUG 18 213.231 195.0
AUG 19 271.076 393.0
AUG 20 196.525 196.5
AUG 21 181.367 168.0
AUG 22 237.662 268.5
AUG 23 259.030 361.5
AUG 24 304.817 483.0
AUG 25 202.106 228.0
AUG 26 190.641 106.5
AUG 27 205.181 193.5
AUG 28 194.357 225.0
AUG 29 246.331 309.0
AUG 30 266.113 384.0
AUG 31 232.711 289.5
SEP 1 233.352 319.5
SEP 2 245.386 399.0
SEP 3 255.919 396.0
SEP 4 264.902 406.5
SEP 5 236.113 361.5
SEP 6 252.820 325.5
SEP 7 211.379 232.5
SEP 8 228.389 267.0
SEP 9 237.348 309.0
SEP 10 241.391 274.5
SEP 11 189.721 138.0

Agrometeorology, Biostructures and Environment Engineering Division (ABSEED)

Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (IABE)
College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT)
SEP 12 180.435 168.0
SEP 13 240.411 300.0
SEP 14 245.653 406.5
SEP 15 290.870 456.0
SEP 16 270.144 354.0
SEP 17 234.563 315.0
SEP 18 230.871 285.0
SEP 19 183.522 186.0
SEP 20 218.183 244.5
SEP 21 221.888 208.5
SEP 22 172.094 88.5
SEP 23 175.483 85.5
SEP 24 183.837 124.5
SEP 25 158.474 49.5
SEP 26 184.188 159.0
SEP 27 215.411 187.5
SEP 28 160.023 25.5
SEP 29 208.607 144.0
SEP 30 217.868 193.5
OCT 1 206.125 219.0
OCT 2 133.426 96.0
OCT 3 225.108 120.0
OCT 4 254.987 277.5
OCT 5 273.231 339.0
OCT 6 234.260 223.5
OCT 7 219.115 343.5
OCT 8 212.215 246.0
OCT 9 254.684 343.5
OCT 10 271.694 372.0
OCT 11 232.408 354.0
OCT 12 244.466 342.0
OCT 13 241.076 331.5
OCT 14 173.014 180.0
OCT 15 211.694 324.0
OCT 16 249.406 417.0
OCT 17 222.166 390.0
OCT 18 210.762 366.0
OCT 19 230.556 405.0
OCT 20 230.241 382.5
OCT 21 239.829 358.5
OCT 22 194.370 258.0
OCT 23 177.045 238.5
OCT 24 211.682 307.5
OCT 25 224.987 331.5
OCT 26 227.771 307.5
OCT 27 219.418 363.0
OCT 28 194.043 300.0
OCT 29 126.622 115.5
OCT 30 173.328 147.0
OCT 31 199.926 235.5
NOV 1 224.672 367.5
NOV 2 242.299 441.0
NOV 3 200.556 261.0
NOV 4 163.425 150.0
NOV 5 216.319 288.0
NOV 6 255.931 442.5
NOV 7 184.466 264.0
NOV 8 216.621 270.0
NOV 9 215.386 421.5
NOV 10 220.968 315.0
NOV 11 244.769 334.5
NOV 12 180.096 294.0
NOV 13 176.125 205.5
NOV 14 201.476 300.0
NOV 15 198.994 360.0
NOV 16 181.052 148.5
NOV 17 210.459 349.5
NOV 18 200.859 355.5

Agrometeorology, Biostructures and Environment Engineering Division (ABSEED)

Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (IABE)
College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT)
NOV 19 187.239 315.0
NOV 20 189.418 249.0
NOV 21 218.800 310.5
NOV 22 211.064 250.5
NOV 23 225.290 322.5
NOV 24 162.191 108.0
NOV 25 230.858 358.5
NOV 26 231.173 351.0
NOV 27 215.096 270.0
NOV 28 227.166 373.5
NOV 29 206.428 291.0
NOV 30 174.866 115.5
DEC 1 160.968 127.5
DEC 2 202.408 342.0
DEC 3 177.336 189.0
DEC 4 129.406 67.5
DEC 5 150.447 202.5
DEC 6 193.437 246.0
DEC 7 219.418 381.0
DEC 8 178.861 283.5
DEC 9 165.895 123.0
DEC 10 147.651 61.5
DEC 11 221.888 321.0
DEC 12 209.830 352.5
DEC 13 155.036 175.5
DEC 14 274.163 468.0
DEC 15 245.713 433.5
DEC 16 190.350 316.5
DEC 17 229.321 439.5
DEC 18 197.457 358.5
DEC 19 166.210 181.5
DEC 20 183.207 247.5
DEC 21 139.007 66.0
DEC 22 168.994 192.0
DEC 23 181.682 153.0
DEC 24 137.748 97.5
DEC 25 147.663 141.0
DEC 26 160.956 210.0
DEC 27 203.026 283.5
DEC 28 219.418 310.5
DEC 29 212.929 267.0
DEC 30 164.672 123.0
DEC 31 165.290 180.0

Agrometeorology, Biostructures and Environment Engineering Division (ABSEED)

Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (IABE)
College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT)