Philippine Christian University

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Dasmariñas Campus

CHAPTER 2

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

According to Darko et al. (2014), the obstacle of sustaining a fair amount of

food in an increasing human population under climate change is quite troubling.
With this, they have taken consideration to rise production capacity by means of
controlled-environment agriculture using artificial lighting. The development of
Light Emitting Diodes (LED) have shown promising potential in enriching
sustainable plant growth. This innovation shows that LEDs can act as both
supplementary or sole-source lighting for artificial lighting source for plants.

The idea presented in that article shows that people are having a hard time
on sustaining enough amount of food to the increasing human population because
of sudden changes of weather, therefore they use other techniques to produce
food. One of them is by using artificial lighting, like the Light Emitting Diode lights
to grow a plant into a non-agriculture environment because it has a potential to
sustain a plant growth. Either it can be a substitute or main component for growing
plant.

As studied by Rehman et al. (2017), LEDs have remarkable potential as

supplemental source of l light. LEDs are novel and versatile source of light with
cool emitting surface, wavelength specification, and low electric power
requirement to grow plants.

Based on Rehman’s study, LEDs can be use as an effective source of light

to grow plants because of its attributes and since it requires low electric power.

According to D'Souza et al. (2015), light emitting diode (LED) lights possess
unique properties that are highly sustainable for several operations in the food

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 Philippine Christian University
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Dasmariñas Campus

industry. Such properties include low radiant heat emissions, high emissions of
monochromatic (black and white) light, electrical luminous, photon efficiency, long
life expectancy, flexibility, and mechanical robustness. LED lights reduces damage
and degradation in crops and increases yields and nutritive content of horticultural
and agricultural produce.

For the growth of the plant, it is to be expected to avoid anything that blemish
the plant. D'Souza stated that light emmiting diode light may decrease the
possibility of poor growth of the plant.

Hyeon and Wheeler (2010) stated that one significant advantage of custom-
designed lighting system is the reduction of insect, disease, or pathogen loads on
certain crops. Tailored lighting system enhanced or restricted in certain wavelength
can also eliminate or minimize the ability of fungi to multiply and insects to host
species or reproduce.

As the researchers plan to have a controlled environment on the brasicarapa,

Hyeon and Wheeler's study would prove to be a good background on depicting the
controlled environment as the introduce the reduction of insect, disease, or
pathogens by using a custom-designed lighting system. This lighting system would
dismiss the reproduction of fungi and insects, as such making the environment of
the plant more suitable for growth.

As stated by Affeldt (2016), plants use more red and blue light for
photosynthesis than they do green, and the absorption spectrum of plants can
effectively be matched by using the right combination of LEDs. LEDs as an
illumination source in an indoor garden are much more suitable than other grow
lights whose peak emissions widely differ from the absorption spectrum of plants.

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 Philippine Christian University
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Dasmariñas Campus

As Affeldt have said, he depicts the idea of using different light color as
means to replicate the natural spectrum of sunlight through LEDs. This idea
showed that there will be a close replication of sunlight through Red, Blue, and
White light emmiting diode lights.

As cited by NASA (2016), different light wavelengths have specific effects for
plants grown indoor. The red LED light is vital for the growth of a plants’ stem and
expansion of leaves. This wavelength regulates flowering, dormancy periods, and
seed germination as well. On the other hand, the blue LED light may stunt the
plant’s growth if overexposed to this light, so it needs to be mixed with other light
in different spectra. It also has an effect to the chlorophyll content present in the
plant as well as leaf thickness.

As NASA stated on their article, they explained that LED lights have varieties
of wavelength and each have specific effects to plants grown indoor. Moreover,
they also stated that it is important to mix another LED light of different spectra to
blue LED lights because too much of it may delay the growth of the plant.

According to Kalisz and Siwek (2006), Chinese cabbage seedling should be

acclimated before they are transplanted so the plant can successfully withstand
adverse weather condition. The effect of low temperature prevailing at the early
stages of plant grow is sometimes associated with the premature flowering.
Chinese cabbage is a cool weather vegetable; it will bolt (form a flower stalk)
quickly if it develops primarily in warm weather.

As Kalisz and Siwek have said, Chinese cabbage seedling, for it to grow in
an adverse weather, needs to be acclimated first. They also stated that the
premature flowering is sometimes the result of low temperature in early stages of
plant grow.

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SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Dasmariñas Campus

As cited by Kuan et al. the light spectra, intensities, and durations of LED
lighting system for plants can be easily controlled and manipulated by the plant
growers for them to have the right proportion suited for the growth of the plants.
With this aspect, the said study demonstrated that the combination of red and blue
LED light was an effective light source for plant growth and development.

Based on the findings of their study, red and blue LED lights proves to be the
best combination for an effective growth and development of a plant. Furthermore,
one advantage of using LED lights as lighting system for plants is that it can be
easily manipulated to find the suited combination of different LED lights of different
wavelengths for the plant growth.

The idea from each cited work proves to be suitable for the researchers'
niche. As those studies show that the plants can be manipulated by light emmiting
diode lighting system, researchers would use the right coherence suited for the
growth of Brassica Rapa subsp. Pekinensis.

B. SYNTHESIS

Since the research study seeks to know the effects of red, blue, and white
light emitting diode lights on the growth of Brassica Rapa subsp. Pekinensis, the
researchers have gathered related studies that will strengthen the researchers’
notion to prove that LED lights can be used as an alternative lighting source for the
growth of the said model plant. The readings cover the theory of the effectiveness
of different LED light wavelength which depicts that red, blue, and white LED light
has distinct effects and different levels of effectiveness to a plant grown indoor.

Furthermore, it is as much important to give emphasis to the theory of LED

lights as a low cost and an effective alternative to sunlight in which plants can grow

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Dasmariñas Campus

in a controlled and treated with LED lighting system environment as it can develop
in a traditional growing environment with sun as its source of light.

C. CONCEPTUAL PARADIGM

FIGURE 1

IPO DIAGRAM

Red, Blue, and Experiment LED Greenhouse

D. LED lights
White Lighting
ANOVA
E.
Growth Indoor Gardening
Chi-square
F.
Brassica Rapa LED Lighting
Hypothesis testing
G. Pekinensis
subsp. System for Indoor
H. Spectrum Data Collection Plants
Light
I.
Weather Condition
Crop Water Needs

Fig.1. shows the IPO diagram for this research study

As the diagram shows, the researchers conducted the study to know if red,
blue, and white LED lights could affect the growth of Brassica Rapa subsp.
Pekinensis. Even so, there are also some variables that needs to be considered
such as light spectrum, weather condition, and crop water needs. Hence, to
come up with the results, several statistical methods are used in determining the
effects of red, blue, and white LED lights on the growth of Brassica Rapa subsp.
Pekinensis. Some of this are ANOVA and chi-square. Given there is a significant
effect, agricultural institution or even plant growers could put up LED greenhouse

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SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Dasmariñas Campus

lighting, LED lighting system for indoor plants, and consider indoor gardening all
of which can create innovation in agriculture and horticulture.

D. HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY

The researchers of this study provide these assumptions that had been
formulated from the research questions and will soon be tested using statistical
treatments as they go further with the research.

1. There is a significant difference on the growth of Brassica Rapa subsp.

Pekinensis exposed to different colors of LED lights;
2. The means of the height of the plants exposed to 3 different colors of LED
lights are different from each other.

E. DEFINITION OF VARIABLES

To facilitate the readers’ understanding of the contents of this study, the

researchers included the operational and conceptual definitions of the following
terms:

1. Effect – this word pertains to the influence of one variable to a particular

variable.
2. Red Light Emitting Diode Light – it is one of the fundamental terms in the
research study since it is the independent variable that concerns causality
on the growth of their experimental plant. It has a wavelength of 630-660
nm and is responsible for vegetation and flowering stages of plant growth.
3. Blue Light Emitting Diode Light – it has a wavelength of 490–450 nm and
is important for vegetative leaf growth. It is also the independent variable in
the study.

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SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Dasmariñas Campus

4. White Light Emitting Diode Light – it has a wavelength of 390-700 nm

since it is a combination of all colors. Also, it is one of the independent
variables of the research study.
5. Growth – it will determine the success in the research study.
6. Brassica Rapa subsp. Pekinensis – it is the dependent variable or the
main target of the study which will take effects from the red, blue, and white
light emitting diode lights. It is also used as the test subject in this research.
7. Light Spectrum – it is considered as the intervening variable in the study
since it concerns different wavelengths of energy produced by the light
source thus, causing an effect to the dependent variable.
8. Weather Condition – it is one of the moderating variables of the study
because it can alter or enhance the effect of the LED lights on the growth
of Brassica Rapa subsp. Pekinensis.
9. Pests – another moderating variable that may hinder the success of the
study
10. Crop Water Needs – It is deemed as an extraneous variable in the study
since it is an essential element for a plant growth but is not emphasized in
the study.

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 Philippine Christian University
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Dasmariñas Campus

CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

To obtain substantial and necessary data that can lead to further findings
and answers to the research questions, the researchers have considered the
following methodological aspects.

A. RESEARCH DESIGN

The researchers of the study will observe the growth of Brassica Rapa subsp.
Pekinensis under the use of red, blue, and white LED lights as its lighting source
and they will measure and treat results using statistical processes in order for them
to acquire accurate and precise hypothesis and results. Therefore, the researchers
configured that the design of the study is a quantitative research and an
experimental type of quantitative research.

B. RESEARCH LOCALE

The research study was conducted at Philippine Christian University –

Dasmariñas Campus. Though mainly, the research experiment set-up will take
place at the residence of one of the researchers, Justine Bernardino, in General
Mariano Alvarez, Cavite. Furthermore, this is the locus of the study because the
experiment must be set up in an indoor environment to give justified results.

C. SAMPLE AND SAMPLING PROCEDURES

Since the study is an experimental type of research, the sampling procedure

used by the researchers is critical sampling wherein the units to be investigated
will solely base on the judgement of the researchers. With critical sampling, the
researchers can focus on particular characteristics of the experimental subject
which will best enable them to answer the research questions.

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SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Dasmariñas Campus

D. INSTRUMENTATION

The researchers will use parallel group design for the experimental set-up.
The experiment will be consisted of three treatments of light which are red, blue,
and white light-emitting diode lights each had the equivalence of 6 watts per light.
As per the seedling, there will be two replications of 3 seedlings per experimental
unit. Moreover, the researchers will set criteria for trial and error as they go over
the series of steps in conducting the experiment.

S1 S2 S3 S1 S2 S3 S1 S2 S3

S1 S2 S3 S1 S2 S3 S1 S2 S3

Fig.1 LED lights panel and treatments distributions (top view)

E. DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

Parallel to the research design, the researchers will conduct an experiment

wherein they will grow chinese cabbage (Brassica Rapa subsp. Pekinensis) seeds
on to three 120X90X44cm plywood plant shelves each have LED lights equipped
with a power of 6 W. One section will be treated with red LED light, the other with
blue LED light, and the last section with white LED light. Each LED light will have
the distance of 51 cm from the ground. On the other hand, the seeds will be sown
at 0.6 cm in depth and in rows about 30 cm apart and thinned to about 10 cm.
Each unit will experience 12 hours exposure to LED light and 12 hours of darkness.

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Dasmariñas Campus

F. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF DATA

As the research study suggests observation of distinctions among three LED

light treatments, the statistical processes to be used are as follows:

For the researchers' use of different controlled environment to observe the

respective growth of each plant and to determine their differences, the researcher
will use Chi-square Test.

x2= (O-E)2
E

where:
x2= chi – square values
O = observed values
E= expected values

Lastly, to determine the significant difference in respective treatment of each

plant, they will use the statistical treatment ANOVA.

F = MSb
MSw

Where:
MSb = Mean Square Between
MSw = Mean Square Within

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