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Rigs for illuminating fields and methods of illuminating plants

  • US 10,231,385 B2
  • Filed: 08/27/2014
  • Issued: 03/19/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:

  • controlling a photoperiodic response of at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted in an open field by;

    providing a mobile irrigation rig having a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources attached to an underside of a main rig arm as a flat array of LED light sources that emit light on an upper surface of the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject;

    causing the mobile irrigation rig to navigate across an open field having the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted therein, wherein the photoperiodically sensitive plant subject is a short-day plant and selectively illuminating the short-day plant is performed periodically during nighttime hours such that the short-day plant is not subject to nighttime light conditions for more than about 12 hours, about 10 hours, about 8 hours, or about 6 hours;

    selectively illuminating, by a control circuit of the mobile irrigation rig, the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject using the plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources attached to the mobile irrigation rig during nighttime hours in a wavelength range between approximately 250 nm and approximately 800 nm while the mobile irrigation rig navigates the open field to control the photoperiodic response of the at least one photoperiodically sensitive plant subject planted therein.

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