Five modules, one process
From photosynthesis inside the leaf to light, spectrum, CO₂ and temperature, to a 30-day harvest and its power use—one module per step, scrubbable to any moment.
Principles·Agriculture & food
Agriculture Principle Animation:Plant Factory Lighting and CO₂ Lab
Plant factories and controlled-environment farms are hard to explain to investors, buyers and trainees because what matters happens inside the leaf: which photons are absorbed, how CO₂ gets in, how bright the lights should be. This lab draws a multi-tier plant factory and a magnified lettuce leaf—from leaf photosynthesis, light response and LED spectra, to CO₂ enrichment and temperature, to a 30-day harvest and its power bill.
Photosynthesis is computed live with the standard FvCB leaf model; yield and power per kilogram are built up day by day from light-use efficiency. Drag light, CO₂ or temperature, or swap red-blue LEDs for warm white, and the drawing, curves and readings change together. Your own crop, equipment or process can be made the same way—as video, GIFs or a web demo.
ForSeed, machinery, smart-farming, food processing and testing firms
PLANT FACTORY LAB
Lighting and CO₂ in a plant factoryHow to grow lettuce faster
Lettuce · 25 plants/m² · 16 h photoperiod · 250 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ · CO₂ 1000 ppm · 22 °C
EXPERIMENT 01EXPERIMENT 02EXPERIMENT 03EXPERIMENT 04EXPERIMENT 05
How a leaf turns light and CO₂ into sugar
How bright: too dim won’t grow, too bright won’t pay
Why plant-factory lights glow red and blue
What extra CO₂ buys, and where to set the temperature
How big in 30 days, and how much power per kilo
Light entersStomataCarbon fixationDimUp to settingSaturationAbsorptionThe lampWhere green goesAdd CO₂Sweep temperatureBack to settingTransplantCanopy closesHarvestLight-limitedCO₂-limitedToo dim: respiration winsToo warm
RedBlue light, water vapourCO₂Chloroplasts, O₂Sugar
At current CO₂400 ppm ambient airCompensationSaturation
Chl aChl bLeaf quantum yield, warm whiteRedBlue
Net photosynthesisCO₂-limitedLight-limitedCO₂ molecules
CurrentSame light, 400 ppmLighting power per kg
LED panelPalisade cells: packed with chloroplastsStoma: CO₂ in, water vapour outSpongy cells: gas moves through the gapsChloroplasts fix CO₂ into sugarSugar leaves through the veinToo dim: respiration outpaces photosynthesisMore light, busier chloroplastsNear saturation: more light adds littleBrighter lamps, bigger billChlorophyll absorbs red and blueMostly red, about 20% blueWarm white: adds greenBlue keeps plants compactGreen goes deeper; some is reflected or passes throughLittle green light, so it looks purpleMore CO₂ outside, more gets inSensor holds the CO₂ levelToo warm: respiration risesTemperature risingWith enough CO₂, stomata close a littleTransplant: leaves don’t yet cover the boardRoots sit in nutrient solutionHarvest at day 30Closed canopy: little light wasted
AirStomaChloroplastCompensationSaturation400 ppmSettingChl aChl bLeaf quantum yieldGreen gapCO₂-limitedLight-limitedCurrent400 ppm
↑ CO₂ (ppm)Net photosynthesis (µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹)Relative valueNet photosynthesis (µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹)Fresh weight (g)Along the diffusion path (µm)PPFD (µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹)Wavelength (nm)Air CO₂ (ppm)Days after transplant →
PalisadeGreenMore light, less per photonBlue 450 nmRed 660 nmBroad warm whiteOptimum400 ppmLowest energy
↑ Light remaining (%)Efficiency (mmol CO₂/mol photons)Relative photonsNet photosynthesis (µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹)Lighting energy (kWh/kg)Depth below the surface (µm)PPFD (µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹)Wavelength (nm)Leaf temperature (°C)PPFD (µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) →
0%
What to watch
Red and blue light are absorbed by chloroplasts within the top hundred-odd micrometres of palisade cells; CO₂ enters through stomata on the underside, diffuses to the chloroplasts and is fixed into sugar that leaves through the vein, while oxygen and water vapour escape.
Below the compensation point the leaf loses more carbon than it gains; above it, more light means faster photosynthesis, but each step adds less, and near saturation extra light mostly adds to the bill. Carbon per photon is highest at moderate light.
Chlorophyll absorbs mostly blue and red. Red LEDs are the most efficient and give the most photosynthesis per photon, so they do the heavy lifting; about 20% blue keeps plants compact with thicker leaves. Warm white adds green that looks pleasant but delivers about a fifth less light per kilowatt-hour.
Ambient air holds about 400 ppm, too little for the chloroplasts; at 1000 ppm the same light fixes roughly 30% more carbon and stomata can close a little, losing less water. Extra CO₂ suppresses photorespiration and lifts the temperature optimum, but above 30 °C respiration takes over and lettuce stops paying.
Right after transplanting the leaves cover little of the board and most light is wasted; growth is fastest once the canopy closes. Too little light and the plants barely grow; too much and each photon buys less carbon. Power per kilo is lowest at moderate light.
01ABOUT THIS LAB
What’s in this lab
Numbers from a real model
Photosynthesis, compensation and saturation points, optimum temperature, fresh weight and energy per kilo all come from one model; curves, readings and drawing share the same numbers.
Drag parameters, see results
Light, CO₂, temperature and lamp spectrum are adjustable, so investors and buyers can test “is more light worth it” themselves.
One build, many formats
The same lab records as 4K video, splits into step GIFs, or runs on your website, a trade-show screen or in training material.
02WHO USES IT
How agriculture & food clients use principle animation
Seed, machinery, smart-farming, food processing and testing firms
Breeding and growing principles, processing, food-safety education
03MORE
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Environment & waterAAO wastewater treatment
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From warm-sea genesis to decay over land
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Patent figures, ratios and claim chart
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Universities & research institutesScanning tunnelling microscope
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AllAll principle animations
13 step-by-step animations and uses across 18 client types
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Page updated 2026-10-24