It comes down the to the ratio of Red photons to Far-Red photons(R:FR). This ratio matters much more than just the intensity of the far-red light alone. Normal daytime R:FR is 1.3:1 (1.3%) and is applied throughout veg. Sunrise and Sunset have an increase R:FR at about 0.6 (0.6%) for about 30 minutes each.โจโจ
โโThe R:FR ratio of direct sunlight is about 1.3 during most of the day, but it approaches 0.6 or so during twilight when the atmosphere preferentially
โ scatters blue light and the sky turns yellow and red. This only lasts for half an hour or less, but it is important because plants use these changes to
โ synchronize their internal circadian clocks both with the 24-hour day and the seasons. This involves a burst of gene expression activity that is
โcontrolled by phytochrome.โ
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โโHigh-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps, on the other hand, have an R:FR ratio of about 4.8, metal halide lamps have R:FR ratios varying from 2.6 to 3.4
โand white light LEDs (regardless of color temperature) have R:FR ratios varying from 3.6 to 4.0. Various fluorescent lamps have R:FR ratios varying
โfrom 5.5 to 13.0 and above.โ
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โโFar-Red Lighting and the Phytochromesโ, Ian Ashdown, Maximum Yield,
โ www.maximumyield.com/far-red-lighting-and-the-phytochromes/2/17443
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The University of Utah Crop Physiology Lab uses a R:FR that is lower than normal daytime ratios (1.5:1 or 1.5%) to minimize the effects of stem elongation in their experiments. Below is an example from one about phosphorus overfeeding vs harvest yields:โจ
โ
โโThe fraction of far-red photons (700 to 750 nm) was 1.5%. Because the far-red fraction was low, the classic PPFD and the ePPFD were within 1.5%
โ of each otherโ
โ"Sustainable Cannabis Nutrition: Elevated root-zone phosphorus significantly increases leachate P and does not improve yield or quality"
โ F. Mitchell Westmorelan, Bruce Bugbee, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.1015652/full