Enhancing Turfgrass Growth Under Low-Light Conditions: The Novel Application of Long Afterglow Luminescent Materials and Glass Microsphere Technology

Abstract

This paper investigates the application of long afterglow (LAG) materials in promoting plant growth, proposing, for the first time, their potential benefits under low-light stress conditions. Two long-afterglow phosphors, Y2O2S:Eu3+ and Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+, Dy3+, were synthesized using a high-temperature solid-state method. A purple light source with a power of 150W and wavelengths of 330 nm and 355 nm was employed for stimulation. The Y2O2S:Eu3+ phosphor emitted red light, while the Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphor emitted blue light, both exhibiting stable luminescence for over 3 hours. These powders were utilized to create glass microspheres, enhancing their durability and environmental compatibility for plant growth applications.Through low-light stress experiments, various experimental groups with differing ratios of red and blue light were established to evaluate the impact of long-afterglow materials on turfgrass growth. The experimental results indicated that, compared to the control group, the groups with red and blue microsphere ratios of 6:1 and 7:1 exhibited increases in grass length of 39.85% and 44.18%, respectively. Conversely, the 4:1 and 5:1 ratios resulted in growth inhibition, with reductions of 35.33% and 32.75%, respectively. In terms of tiller number and average rhizome length, the 4:1 and 5:1 groups displayed favorable outcomes, achieving tiller counts of 7 and rhizome lengths of 3.02857 cm and 3.15714 cm, respectively. The low-light stress application proposed in this study offers a novel perspective on utilizing long-afterglow materials to regulate plant growth. Additionally, practical application experiments underscore the potential new uses of long-afterglow luminescent materials in agriculture, highlighting their role in enhancing plant growth.

Keywords: Long afterglow (LAG) and Low-light stress and Glass microspheres and Agricultural application