Effect of supplementary lighting on growth and primary nitrogen metabolism of greenhouse lamb's lettuce and spinach.

Two cultivars of Lamb's lettuce (Valerianella sp. 'Valgros' et 'Vit') and one cultivar of spinach (Spinacea oleracea L. 'Martine RZ F1') were subjected to three light treatments. Two photoperiods, 12 h and 16 h were compared to natural light between January and April 1994. A photosynthetic flux of 50 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) was provided as supplementary fighting using HPS lamps. The use of artificial lighting significantly increased biomass and nitrate reductase activity, while also reducing nitrate accumulation in leaves. The 16 h-photoperiod increased biomass and reduced nitrates content in leaves more than the 12 h photoperiod. In Lamb's lettuce, Valgos was more productive than Vit but accumulated more nitrates. The use of supplementary lighting gave high yields of lamb's lettuce and spinach in greenhouse under northern climatic conditions.