Efficiency of Light Energy Conversion in Plant Growth.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Work from this laboratory with unicellular green algae and higher plants is reviewed. Large algal cultures may show efficiencies of 7-10% of the photosynthesizible part of unweakened solar radiation. A washing machine demonstration modei, with transparent, lucite container, is now used as a good mass culture vessel. Higher plant growth is no less efficient in part of the season; the overall yield during the entire season does not exceed 1-2%, owing to less efficient periods. Weakening of the light not always results in increase of efficiency; other factors may unfavorably interfere. Yield of plant growth on the entire earth is estimated to be 0.4 x 1011 tons C/year, the overall efficiency of conversion of photosynthesizible radiation, 0.17%, viz., 0.27% on the land area, and 0.11% in the oceans. Density of human population is unlikely to . surpass utilization for nutrition of 0.1% of photosynthesizible radiation on the habitable land area.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: