Investigation of the reusability of soilless agricultural drainage water

Abstract

In greenhouses, the nutrient-rich drainage water is frequently released into surrounding areas, raising pollution issues. Soilless agricultural systems, which have an increasing trend in greenhouse industries, are ideal for recycling water and nutrients because the drainage can be easily captured for reuse. This study was conducted to investigate the reusability of drainage water discharged from an open-system soilless agricultural greenhouse. For this purpose, tomato plants were grown in cocopeat environments. Tomato plants were grown by irrigation mixing different ratios of the drainage water obtained from the open system soilless agriculture greenhouse and the nutrient solutions used for growing plants in soilless agriculture. The study was carried out in five cocopeat environments with four tomato plants in each cocopeat according to a completely randomized experimental design. Some physiological characteristics, yield parameters and the nutritional status of the tomato plants and their fruits were determined. The highest N (5.54%) and K (4.96%) contents in tomato plant leaves were obtained in 100% drainage water applications, while the highest P content (0.84%) was obtained in 100% solution applications. The highest plant height was determined at 100% drainage water application. The highest yield per plant (915.67 g plant−1) and Class I marketable fruit sizes were determined at a 50% drainage and 50% solution mix ratio. No nutrient deficiency or toxicity was detected in tomato plants grown using drainage water. It was concluded that the drainage water discharged from the system can be re-used in greenhouses where open system soilless agriculture is used.