A weighted quantum reading provides the best light comparison available
today. Light measurement for plant growing has always been based on legacy
technology, with the quantum sensor being the best compromise. However, the
quantum sensor, while being the standard of scientific light measurement across
multiple light sources, still has it’s flaws especially when measuring LED grow
lights.
There’s also another factor in measuring light for plants: The weighted plant
light absorption spectrum, which is based on the work of agricultural scientist K.J.
McCree from the early 1980’s, which still stands unchallenged today. His work
involved providing an algorithm by which a direct comparison could be made
between different light sources, wavelengths of light, and the actual absorption by
wavelength of light by plants. This algorithm gives more or less value to light, by
wavelength, and its ability to be absorbed and used by plants for growth. This is
significantly different from just considering the plant absorption factor because
plants not only absorb light differently by wavelength, but they also “use” light
differently by wavelength.
The total emitted light energy from a single LGM3 bar is 22.96 uMols at 20″.
This is total plant absorbed light energy that is near target with maximum plant
absorption peaks, as opposed to white light energy numbers which contain 80%+
light components not used by plants for growth. –CEO Solar Oasis