Evaluation of Recycled Materials as Hydroponic Growing Media
Conventional soilless growing media, such as perlite, are mined from nonrenewable resources and can only be disposed of in landfills after limited use. There is a need to investigate novel, sustainable growing media adapted from waste or engineered to be reused over multiple cycles. This study inves...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1092 |
| _version_ | 1797561073853792256 |
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| author | Nicole Kennard Ross Stirling Ankush Prashar Elisa Lopez-Capel |
| author_facet | Nicole Kennard Ross Stirling Ankush Prashar Elisa Lopez-Capel |
| author_sort | Nicole Kennard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Conventional soilless growing media, such as perlite, are mined from nonrenewable resources and can only be disposed of in landfills after limited use. There is a need to investigate novel, sustainable growing media adapted from waste or engineered to be reused over multiple cycles. This study investigated waste almond shells and a recycled plastic drainage plank as hydroponic growing media alternatives. Physiochemical properties were evaluated, and a germination and greenhouse growth trial was conducted to understand the effect these media have on production and nutritional quality of lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L. cv. Catalogna Verde). Drought testing was carried out to understand how the media affected the lettuce’s response to water stress. In comparison to perlite, yields under regular irrigation were reduced by 52% in almond shells and 72% in plastic planks, although lettuce grown in almond shells still obtained commercially relevant yields. Reduced yields in almond shells were likely caused by the shell’s high salinity. Lettuce growth in plastic planks was limited by impeded root growth and low water-holding capacity. In conclusion, with minor alterations, almond shells could be used as a sustainable growing media alternative to perlite in hydroponic lettuce production. More research is needed to manufacture the planks to be conducive to plant growth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:09:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e8978de8b784ea39d70df0fd164d113 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:09:07Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e8978de8b784ea39d70df0fd164d1132023-11-20T08:14:59ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-07-01108109210.3390/agronomy10081092Evaluation of Recycled Materials as Hydroponic Growing MediaNicole Kennard0Ross Stirling1Ankush Prashar2Elisa Lopez-Capel3School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKSchool of Engineering, Drummond Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKSchool of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKSchool of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKConventional soilless growing media, such as perlite, are mined from nonrenewable resources and can only be disposed of in landfills after limited use. There is a need to investigate novel, sustainable growing media adapted from waste or engineered to be reused over multiple cycles. This study investigated waste almond shells and a recycled plastic drainage plank as hydroponic growing media alternatives. Physiochemical properties were evaluated, and a germination and greenhouse growth trial was conducted to understand the effect these media have on production and nutritional quality of lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L. cv. Catalogna Verde). Drought testing was carried out to understand how the media affected the lettuce’s response to water stress. In comparison to perlite, yields under regular irrigation were reduced by 52% in almond shells and 72% in plastic planks, although lettuce grown in almond shells still obtained commercially relevant yields. Reduced yields in almond shells were likely caused by the shell’s high salinity. Lettuce growth in plastic planks was limited by impeded root growth and low water-holding capacity. In conclusion, with minor alterations, almond shells could be used as a sustainable growing media alternative to perlite in hydroponic lettuce production. More research is needed to manufacture the planks to be conducive to plant growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1092hydroponicssoilless culturegrowing mediaperlitealmond shellsdrought |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Kennard Ross Stirling Ankush Prashar Elisa Lopez-Capel Evaluation of Recycled Materials as Hydroponic Growing Media Agronomy hydroponics soilless culture growing media perlite almond shells drought |
| title | Evaluation of Recycled Materials as Hydroponic Growing Media |
| title_full | Evaluation of Recycled Materials as Hydroponic Growing Media |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Recycled Materials as Hydroponic Growing Media |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Recycled Materials as Hydroponic Growing Media |
| title_short | Evaluation of Recycled Materials as Hydroponic Growing Media |
| title_sort | evaluation of recycled materials as hydroponic growing media |
| topic | hydroponics soilless culture growing media perlite almond shells drought |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1092 |
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