Modulating Productivity of Strawberries (Fragaria x ananassaDuch.) Through Artificial Full-Spectrum Light in Indoor Vertical Farming

The decreasing trend of per capita availability of cultivable land, uncertainty in climatic conditions and growing trend of urbanization have developed a thought towards vertical farming and indoor cultivation. The experimentation was done to optimize the requirement of full-spectrum light during indoor cultivation of strawberries in vertical farming. Strawberry plants were grown under indoor conditions in the vertical structure with four levels viz., first level (ground) (L1), second level (L2), third level (L3), and fourth level (top) (L4). The vertical structure was provided with artificial full-spectrum light (AFSL) as per the treatments: T1[L4+ D0(no AFSL)], T2[L3+ D1(AFSL for 4 h)], T3[L2+ D3(AFSL for 6 h)], T4[L1+ D4(AFSL for 8 h)], T5[L3+ D2(AFSL for 6 h)] and T6[L2+ D4(AFSL for 8 h)]. The exposure of indoor strawberry plants with artificial full-spectrum light (AFSL) for 6 and 8 h improved plant growth, flowering, fruiting, and yield. Average light intensity of ≥ 100 µmol s− 1m− 2is essential for producing more fruits per plant, larger fruits, and high yield in strawberries grown under ventilated indoor conditions. The average light intensity available to the plants confirms a strong and positive correlation with the fruit set, average berry weight, and yield of strawberries. To maximize strawberry growth and yield in vertical farming systems, the full-spectrum light of 6 to 8 h through AFSL to harvest higher yields from strawberry plants.