A Low-Tech Approach to Mobilize Nutrients from Organic Residues to Produce Bioponic Stock Solutions

Sebastian Heintze, Marc Beckett (), Lukas Simon Kriem, Jörn Germer and Folkard Asch
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Sebastian Heintze: Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Marc Beckett: Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Lukas Simon Kriem: Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Jörn Germer: Hans-Ruthenberg Institute for Tropical Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 13, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Folkard Asch: Hans-Ruthenberg Institute for Tropical Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 13, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Organic residues, as a nutrient source suitable of producing solutions for hydroponic crop production, have the potential to reduce the dependence on mineral fertilizers. Especially in remote and resource-constrained regions, organic residues might be the only option to produce hydroponic nutrient solutions. However, nutrient solutions made from organic residues, called bioponic solutions, are usually unbalanced in their nutrient composition, which leads to deficiencies and poor plant growth. This study aimed to experimentally develop a low-tech approach to produce bioponic stock solutions rich in NO 3 − , P, and K, to create a balanced bioponic solution. The mixed bioponic solution contained 58 mg L −1 NH 4 + -N, 43 mg L −1 NO 3 − -N, 50 mg L −1 PO 4 3− -P, and 246 mg L −1 K + . This approach resulted in satisfactory levels of P, K and micronutrients. The solution was tested pure and spiked with Ca(NO 3 ) 2 on lettuce in comparison with a mineral Hoagland nutrient solution. Neither the bioponic nor the spiked bioponic solution achieved comparable lettuce yields to the Hoagland solution. The poor growth of the plants in the bioponic solution was attributed to an unfavorable NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratio, high microorganism load, and elevated pH levels. However, the approach of preparing bioponic stock solutions could be promising for future research into the production of balanced bioponic nutrient solutions from organic residues.

Keywords: bioponics; hydroponics; soilless agriculture; organic residue reuse; plant nutrition (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: 2024
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