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Wastewater as a nutrient source for hydroponic production of lettuce: Summer and winter growth

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  • Santos, Ounísia
  • Vaz, Daniela
  • Sebastião, Fernando
  • Sousa, Helena
  • Vieira, Judite

Abstract

Solutions combining soilless cropping systems with wastewater reuse can offer benefits in the agriculture sector, reducing pressure on water resources, promoting sustainable production, and reclaiming wastewater. However, assessing the sanitary risks associated with wastewater reuse is of utmost importance. This study aimed to investigate the hydroponic growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa L.) in wastewater from an urban treatment plant with different levels of treatment and evaluate potential sanitary risks. Crop growth took place in a greenhouse, during summer and winter periods, using wastewater after primary (PTW) or secondary (STW) treatment, and a nutrient solution (NS), as control. Physical and chemical water quality parameters, morphological crop growth parameters, and environmental conditions inside the greenhouse were monitored. Toxicity analyses were carried out through cell viability assays with the Caco-2 cell line and total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were determined. Wastewater-grown plants achieved acceptable growth, even though presenting lower fresh weight than NS-plants. STW-plants’ growth was limited essentially by nutrient deficiency, and PTW-plants were affected by nutrient deficiency, pH values, solid load, and N-NO2 concentration. Higher temperatures in summer led to faster crop growth, and lower temperatures in winter allowed better nutrient uptake by the crop. Wastewater-grown plants did not evidence toxicity in leaf extracts up to 1 % w/v. Coliform enumeration data indicated an accumulation in plant roots, with high removal from the wastewater. E. coli was not detected on plants’ leaves and total coliforms were within acceptable limits. Furthermore, the results point to an improvement in the wastewater quality, with minimum removal values of 75.2 % BOD5, 83.1 % COD, 43.4 % P, 44.9 % N, and 90.4 % K. The results demonstrated the viability of wastewater reuse for hydroponic production allowing a better understanding of its processes and contributing to mitigating water scarcity for food production, and the impacts of treated wastewater discharge in freshwater courses, particularly those associated with nutrient delivery to aquatic systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Santos, Ounísia & Vaz, Daniela & Sebastião, Fernando & Sousa, Helena & Vieira, Judite, 2024. "Wastewater as a nutrient source for hydroponic production of lettuce: Summer and winter growth," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:301:y:2024:i:c:s0378377424003019
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2024.108966
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Noémi Kappel & Ildikó Fruzsina Boros & Francia Seconde Ravelombola & László Sipos, 2021. "EC Sensitivity of Hydroponically-Grown Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) Types in Terms of Nitrate Accumulation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Nicoleta Ungureanu & Valentin Vlăduț & Gheorghe Voicu, 2020. "Water Scarcity and Wastewater Reuse in Crop Irrigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
    3. da Silva Cuba Carvalho, Renata & Bastos, Reinaldo Gaspar & Souza, Claudinei Fonseca, 2018. "Influence of the use of wastewater on nutrient absorption and production of lettuce grown in a hydroponic system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 311-321.
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