2nd Edition of Agriculture, Forestry, and Horticulture World Conference 2026

Abstract

Different light qualities play a critical role in modulating crop photosynthesis, thereby influencing biomass accumulation and the performance of indoor environmental control system (ECS). However, their effects are represented implicitly in most process-based models for indoor crop systems. Traditionally, such models simplify light inputs primarily as light quantity (e.g. PAR or PPFD) at the level of physiological responses or treat them as an external model conditions. Recent advances in LED lighting technologies and precise ECS have created a growing need to incorporate light quality, in addition to light quantity, into the optimization of indoor crop production systems. The objectives of this study are to review the current state of the art and examine how light quality effects are in crop growth processes with a focus on process-based models used in ECS. Based on this review, this study proposes a process-based model approach to represent light quality through the integrated simulation of photosynthesis, photomorphogenesis, and biomass allocation. The model focuses on crop growth processes and biomass production under ECS, as the primary output. Further research direction is needed to light quality from an additional input to a core control factor for the optimization of ECS.