Effect of Nutrient Solution Activated with Non-Thermal Plasma on Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce Grown Indoor in Aeroponics

Martina Puccinelli (), Giulia Carmassi, Damiano Lanza, Rita Maggini, Paolo Vernieri and Luca Incrocci
Additional contact information
Martina Puccinelli: Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Giulia Carmassi: Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Damiano Lanza: Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Rita Maggini: Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Paolo Vernieri: Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Luca Incrocci: Department of Agriculture Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Innovation in cultivation methods is essential to address the growing challenges in agriculture, including abiotic and biotic stress, soil degradation, and climate change. Aeroponics, a particular type of hydroponics, presents a promising solution by improving yield and resource use efficiency, especially in controlled environments such as plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs). Additionally, non-thermal plasma (NTP), a partially ionized gas containing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, can affect plant development and physiology, further enhancing crop production. The objective of this study was to explore the potential of NTP as an innovative method to enhance crop production by treating the nutrient solution in aeroponic systems. During this study, three experiments were conducted to assess the effects of NTP-treated nutrient solutions on baby leaf lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) aeroponically grown indoors. The nutrient solution was treated with ionized air in a treatment column separated from the aeroponic system by making the ionized air bubble from the bottom of the column. After 2 min of NTP application, a pump took the nutrient solution from the treatment column and sprayed it on the roots of plants. Various frequencies of NTP application were tested, ranging from 2.5% to 50% of irrigation events with nutrient solution activated with NTP. Results indicated that low-frequency NTP treatments (up to 5% of irrigations) stimulated plant growth, increasing leaf biomass (+18–19%) and enhancing the concentration of flavonoids (+16–18%), phenols (+20–21%), and antioxidant capacity (+29–53%). However, higher NTP frequencies (25% and above) negatively impacted plant growth, reducing fresh and dry weight and root biomass, likely due to excessive oxidative stress. The study demonstrates the potential of NTP as a tool for improving crop quality and yields in aeroponic cultivation, with optimal benefits achieved at lower treatment frequencies.

Keywords: hydroponics; Lactuca sativa L.; plant factories with artificial lighting; reactive oxygen species; reactive nitrogen species; antioxidants; nutrient solution (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: 2025
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/4/405/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/4/405/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:4:p:405-:d:1591572

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().