Sustainable Strategies Based on Reused Leachates and Hydrogen Peroxide Supply to Fertigate Cordyline fruticosa var. ‘Red Edge’ Plants

Fernando Paniagua, Blanca María Plaza, Alfonso Llanderal, Pedro García-Caparrós and María Teresa Lao ()
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Fernando Paniagua: Department of Agronomy, School of Engineering, CIAIMBITAL, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Blanca María Plaza: Department of Agronomy, School of Engineering, CIAIMBITAL, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Alfonso Llanderal: Department of Agronomy, School of Engineering, CIAIMBITAL, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Pedro García-Caparrós: Department of Agronomy, School of Engineering, CIAIMBITAL, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
María Teresa Lao: Department of Agronomy, School of Engineering, CIAIMBITAL, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3, University of Almeria, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: Leachate reuse is a helpful tool that contributes to the sustainability of agricultural systems, but it requires previous disinfection. Hydrogen peroxide can be found among the disinfectants frequently applied in ecological production systems. Moreover, it can improve the oxygenation of the root system. The objective of this work was to study its effect on C. fruticosa plants fertigated with leachates. A split-plot design with six treatments, three without an H 2 O 2 supply (S 0 ) and three with an H 2 O 2 supply dosage at 2% (S H2O2 ), was arranged: raw leachate from C. lanatus (L 100 ), raw leachate from C. lanatus diluted with tap water until EC of 2.5 dS m −1 (L WD ), and raw leachate from C. lanatus diluted with standard nutrient solution until EC of 2.5 dS m −1 (L NSD ). The results produced data about the evolution of the nutrient and leachate solutions throughout the cultivation period. Morphological (height, leaf number, leaf area, total fresh weight, relative water status, and dry weight) and physiological (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, chlorophyll a+b, and proline) parameters were studied to reveal the plant response. The efficiency of nutrient utilization was higher with the L WD treatment, and water and nitrogen utilization efficiency decreased under the H 2 O 2 supply. In conclusion, the reuse of diluted leachate is advised for nutritionally undemanding crops, such as C. fruticosa ; moreover, the H 2 O 2 supply improved tolerance to salinity and enhanced root growth and Red-Green-Blue (RGB) values.

Keywords: leachates; nutrient solution; soilless; watermelon; water use efficiency (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: 2023
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