Plasma-Activated Water: A New Path Toward Sustainable Hydroponics
A research team at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand used an underwater-discharge plasma-activated water system from Creating Nano Technologies to study the application of plasma-activated water (PAW) in hydroponic farming with reduced nutrient input.
Using romaine lettuce, the researchers compared three treatments:
• Half-strength nutrient solution
• Half-strength nutrient solution with PAW
• PAW combined with milk protein hydrolysate
The PAW treatment groups showed improvements in plant growth, nutrient composition, and postharvest quality. The combination of PAW and milk protein hydrolysate produced the most notable results:
- Fresh weight yield was nearly twice that of the control group
- Higher protein and mineral content, with greater antioxidant capacity
- Lower nitrate accumulation in the plants
- Better appearance and quality after 21 days of cold storage
The study suggests that PAW may support more than seed activation and surface microbial control. It could also be integrated into hydroponic nutrient solutions, automated irrigation, and smart farming systems to help reduce nutrient input and improve crop quality.
The best results were achieved using PAW combined with milk protein hydrolysate. Actual performance may vary depending on the crop, nutrient solution, and treatment parameters.
#PlasmaActivatedWater #PAW #Hydroponics #SustainableAgriculture #SmartAgriculture #CreatingNanoTechnologies