METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE REDUCTION OF HARMFUL NITRATES IN PLANTS USING RADIANT FLUX GENERATED BY A SOLID-STATE ILLUMINATOR

摘要

At the harvesting stage or just after harvesting the plants are treated by radiant flux generated by the solid-state illuminator in order to direct the photosynthetic and metabolic processes still present in plants in such a way that the concentration of nitrates is reduced while nutritional quality and other properties useful for humans are preserved. The plants are irradiated within a period of up to 3 days with the photosynthetic photon flux density regulated in the special range within the wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm and photoperiod of 12 to 24 hours, with thermal radiation directed outwards from the treated plants and with an optional alteration of the environmental conditions.