DLI (Daily Light Integral) is the total amount of photosynthetically usable light (PAR light) a plant receives in one day. It is measured in moles of photons per square meter per day (mol/m²/day) and indicates how much light energy a plant absorbs in 24 hours .
DLI is crucial for plant growth because it determines the total light dose per day , not just the light intensity at a particular time.
Why is DLI important?
🌱 Determines the growth rate of plants – The higher the DLI, the faster plants grow (up to a maximum).
🌱 Essential for greenhouses, vertical farming and indoor cultivation – Optimizing daylight and artificial light.
🌱 Varies per plant species – Some plants need a lot of light (e.g. tomatoes), others less (e.g. lettuce).
DLI, PPFD, and Exposure Time: How Do They Work Together?
DLI depends on the light intensity (PPFD) and exposure time .
📌 DLI = PPFD × (exposure time in seconds per day) × conversion factor (0.0000864)
📌 The longer the light is on or the brighter the light, the higher the DLI .
For example:
- PPFD = 400 µmol/m²/s
- Exposure = 12 hours (43,200 seconds)
- DLI = 400 × 43,200 × 0.0000864 = 15 mol/m²/day
Higher PPFD → Faster higher DLI
Longer exposure time → Slowly increasing DLI
How much DLI do plants need?
Different plants have different DLI needs :
| Plant species | DLI (mol/m²/day) | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Shade plants (fern, sansevieria) | 5 - 10 | Houseplants, shade crops |
| Lettuce, basil, microgreens | 12 - 17 | Vertical farming, greenhouse vegetables |
| Tomato, bell pepper, cucumber | 20 - 30 | Greenhouse and outdoor cultivation |
| Cannabis (growth) | 15 - 25 | Indoor and greenhouse cultivation |
| Cannabis (flowering) | 25 - 40 | High light-requiring crop |
| Full sun (outside) | 30 - 60 | Maximum DLI in summer sun |
💡 Indoor growing often requires LED lighting to achieve the DLI, especially during short winter days.
How can you increase DLI?
🔹 More powerful grow lights (higher PPFD) – More light per second increases DLI.
🔹 Longer exposure time – Longer light on means higher DLI.
🔹 Use of reflectors or light diffusion – Reduces shadows and maximizes light capture.
🔹 Greenhouse light optimization – Diffuse glass and LED hybrid systems improve DLI in greenhouses.
Conclusion: Why is DLI essential for plant growth?
✅ Enables you to measure and optimize the total daily light intake of plants.
✅ Determines the right amount of light for healthy growth and flowering.
✅ Important for indoor growing, greenhouses and seasonal crop optimization.