Evaluating the feasibility of human excreta-derived material for the production of hydroponically grown tomato plants - Part I: Photosynthetic efficiency, leaf gas exchange and tissue mineral content

Shirly Tentile Magwaza, Lembe Samukelo Magwaza, Alfred Oduor Odindo, Jacob Mashilo, Asanda Mditshwa and Chris Buckley

Agricultural Water Management, 2020, vol. 234, issue C

Abstract: There is increasing interest and wide recognition of the potential use of human-excreta derived materials (HEDM) as fertilizer to supply essential nutrients needed for crop production. However, most work on HEDM has focussed on yield responses using soils and very little done on soil-less media using hydroponics. Further, physiological responses of plants to different HEDM in a hydroponic production system is currently not well-understood. This study investigated the effect of Decentralized Waste-water Treatment System (DEWATS) effluents and Nitrified Urine Concentrate (NUC) on leaf gas exchange, photosynthetic efficiency and mineral content of hydroponically-grown tomato. The experiment was conducted in a polyethylene tunnel using a complete randomised design comprising of three treatments namely: DEWATS effluent, NUC and commercial hydroponic fertilizer mix (CHFM). Sampling conducted both before and after flowering showed significant differences (P < 0.05) among different nutrient sources for all physiological parameters (leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence) and mineral content. Leaf N and P were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in NUC treatment whereas Ca and K were high in the CHFM treatment. The current study demonstrated that HEDM such as NUC and DEWATS effluent could be an effective source of nutrients of agricultural crops in hydroponic systems with results comparable to commercial fertilizer mix.

Keywords: Gas exchange; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Photosystem II; Hydroponics; Mineral nutrients; Plant physiology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:234:y:2020:i:c:s0378377419312065

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106114

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