When it comes to agriculture, sunlight has a big effect on the growth of plants. But the connection between UV radiation and plant health is something that has been studied in depth and it is an area that is getting a lot of attention and research. UV radiation can have harmful effect on plants if the exposure level if high and this has led to the innovation of shade cloth that can help block UV radiation to different levels.
UV radiation is a part of sunlight
And it is categorised into types such as UVA, UVB and UVC which are found in different wavelengths. The plants have certain mechanisms for coping with UV radiation but cellular damage can be done by excessive exposure. Photosynthesis is the process that plants use to convert light energy to chemical energy so that they can grow. But this process is sensitive to UV radiation. When there are high levels of UVB, photosynthetic activity is inhibited as the chlorophyll molecules are damaged. This will lead to reduced growth rates and yields. The production of reactive oxygen species will be induced by UV radiation and this can lead to oxidative stress. This can cause cellular damage to the plans when proteins, DNA and lipids are oxidised. So when exposure to UV radiation is prolonged, oxidative stress that is induced by this can compromise the health and vitality of the plants. This can make them more susceptible to environmental stresses and disease.
You can find shade cloth from many companies
That specialise in products that contribute to protected crop farming such as Greenlife GRO. This is a woven fabric that can filter sunlight and regulate the exposure to light in an agricultural setting such as a greenhouse. The density of the fabric can be changed to block different parts of the solar spectrum which can include UV radiation. When you check product descriptions when purchasing shade cloth, you will see a shade percentage specified. This is the amount of sunlight the shade cloth will allow to pass through. When there is a higher percentage, greater shading is provided. The different shade percentages you can get from shade cloth can have a big impact on the amount of UV radiation that will reach the plants.
When you install shade cloth
That comes with higher shade percentages, this will reduce the intensity of sunlight and UV radiation that will reach the crops. And this can protect against excessive exposure to UV radiation. However, it will also mimic the light available for photosynthesis so it is important to balance adequate light levels with UV protection so that you can ensure optimal photosynthetic activity can take place. UV radiation will regulate flowering and fruiting in many plants. Moderate levels of UV radiation can promote the initiation of flowers and development of fruit. But excessive exposure can have harmful effects. The ideal balance can be created by the use of shade cloth so that harmful UV radiation can be filtered out while sufficient light levels will still reach the plant to promote flowering and fruiting.
