Maximization of Water Productivity and Yield of Two Iceberg Lettuce Cultivars in Hydroponic Farming System Using Magnetically Treated Saline Water

Abdelaziz M. Okasha, Eman M. Eldib, Adel H. Elmetwalli, Aitazaz Ahsan Farooque, Zaher Mundher Yaseen and Salah Elsayed
Additional contact information
Abdelaziz M. Okasha: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
Eman M. Eldib: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
Adel H. Elmetwalli: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Aitazaz Ahsan Farooque: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A4P3, Canada
Zaher Mundher Yaseen: Department of Urban Planning, Engineering Networks and Systems, Institute of Architecture and Construction, South Ural State University, 76, Lenin Prospect, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia
Salah Elsayed: Agricultural Engineering, Evaluation of Natural Resources Department, Environmental Studies and Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Egypt

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Egypt has limited agricultural land, associated with the scarcity of irrigation water and rapid population growth. Hydroponic farming, seawater desalination and magnetic treatment are among the practical solutions for sustaining rapid population growth. In this regard, the main objective of the present research study was to design and construct a hierarchical engineering unit as a hydroponic farming system (soilless) to produce an iceberg lettuce crop using magnetically treated saline water. The treatments included four types of irrigation water: common irrigation water (IW 1 ) with an electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.96 dS/m as a control treatment, magnetically treated common irrigation water (IW 2 ) with an EC of 0.96 dS/m, saline water (IW 3 ) with an EC of 4.56 dS/m and magnetically treated saline water (IW 4 ) with an EC of 4.56 dS/m; three depletion ratios (DR) of field capacity (DR 0 = 50%, DR 1 = 60% and DR 2 = 70%) and three slopes of hydroponic pipes (S 1 = 0.0%, S 2 = 0.025% and S 3 = 0.075%). The results revealed that seawater contributed 7.15% to produce iceberg lettuce in the hydroponic system. The geometric parameter, the slope of the pipes, influenced the obtained luminous intensity by an average increase of 21% and 71% for S 2 and S 3 , respectively, compared with the zero slope (horizontal pipes). Magnetization of irrigation water increased the total soluble solids (TSS) and enhanced the fresh weight and water productivity of both iceberg lettuce varieties used. The maximum percentages of TSS were 5.20% and 5.10% for lemur and iceberg 077, respectively, for the combination IW 4 DR 2 S 2 . The highest values of fresh weight and water productivity of 3.10 kg/m and 39.15 kg/m 3 were recorded with the combinations IW 3 DR 2 S 3 and IW 4 DR 1 S 3 , respectively, for lemur and iceberg lettuce. The percentages of these increases were 109.46% and 97.78%, respectively, when compared with the combination IW 1 DR 0 S 1 . The highest values of iceberg lettuce 077 fresh weight and water productivity were 2.93 kg/m and 36.15 kg/m 3 , respectively, which were recorded with the combination IW 4 DR 1 S 3 . The percentages of these increases were 112.32% and 120.56%, respectively, when compared with IW 1 DR 0 S 1 (the control treatment).

Keywords: magnetic water treatment; hydroponics; soilless; iceberg lettuce; seawater; water productivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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