A III-nitride light emitting layer in a semiconductor light emitting
device has a graded composition. The composition of the light emitting
layer may be graded such that the change in the composition of a first
element is at least 0.2% per angstrom of light emitting layer. Grading in
the light emitting layer may reduce problems associated with polarization
fields in the light emitting layer. The light emitting layer may be, for
example In.sub.xGa.sub.1-xN, Al.sub.xGa.sub.1-xN, or
In.sub.xAl.sub.yGa.sub.1-x-yN.