What is DLI?
DLI(Daily Light Integral), is the amount of PAR(Photosynthetically Active Radiation individual particles of light in the 400-700 nm range), received each day as a function of light intensity and duration. It is expressed in terms of mol/m2/d (moles of light per square meter per day).
This metric is important because the amount of light your plants get in a day is directly related to plant growth, development, yield, and crop quality.
How much DLI do Common Indoor Crops need?
Let’s take a look at the DLI requirement of various crops that are popularly cultivated indoors.
Plant |
DLI Requirement |
Shade Plants |
6 - 10 |
Peas |
9 |
Basil |
12 |
Broccoli |
15 - 35 |
Tomatoes |
20 - 30 |
Zucchini |
25 |
Peppers |
30 - 40 |
Cannabis |
30 - 45 |
We can find Peppers and Cannabis have a surprisingly high DLI requirement, which is the reason why high PPF output lights are important when cultivating these crops indoor.
What is the relationship between PPFD and DLI?
The formula for calculating DLI is: μmol m-2s-1 (or PPFD) x (3600 x photoperiod) / 1,000,000 = DLI (or moles/m2/day)
PPFD is the number of photons that arrive at a specific area (m2) every second, measured in micromoles (μmol m-2s-1).
1.000.000 micromoles = 1 mole
3600 seconds = 1 hour
Post time: Jul-26-2022