PPFD/DLI Targets & Spectrum Economics
Stage-by-stage PPFD and DLI setpoints, the 800–900 PPFD ceiling without CO2, and why fixture efficacy beats spectral tweaks for ROI.
9 min read
Here are the numbers you actually dial in, stage by stage. These are commercial-indoor starting ranges from the Bugbee/USU light work and AROYA field data — verify against your cultivar and your quantum-sensor map.
| Stage | Target PPFD (µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) | Photoperiod | DLI (mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clone / seedling | 150–300 | 18 h | 10–20 |
| Vegetative | 300–600 | 18/6 | 20–40 |
| Flower (no CO2) | 600–900 | 12/12 | ~26–39 |
| Flower (CO2-enriched, commercial) | 1,000–1,500 | 12/12 | ~43–65 |
| Research ceiling (still linear) | up to ~1,800 | 12/12 | up to ~78 |
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