Day-Night Temperatures and CO2 Enrichment Carbon Dioxide is an
odorless gas which makes up about 300 ppm of our atmosphere, yet
dried plant material contains an average of 40% carbon which
comes entirely from CO2. Therefore we need to consider CO2 to be
a major plant nutrient, one that affects growth rate, yield and
one that needs to be supplied in adequate quantities if crop
growth is going to be maximized. The main plant process a grower
needs to consider is 'photosynthesis' as this is what drives
growth, development and production. Photosynthesis is a reaction
with occurs within the leaf tissue and requires light of the
correct wavelength, water and carbon dioxide to produce
assimilates (sugars) which are used for growth and development.
As a by-product oxygen is released into the environment. When
artificial lights are used to grow plants, the aim is to provide
just the right intensity and wavelengths for optimal
photosynthesis. Hydroponic plants also usually have more than
sufficient water and nutrients,