Development of innovative 'Flooding hydroponic systems', based on Grow Boxes, filled with mixed substrates made of two organic soil improving materials and agricultural perlite products and by-products. Case study: lettuce (variety Paris Island COS D3000)

Abstract

Nowadays, the responsibility of the farmers to grow good quality crops in bigger quantities is connected with the future of life on planet Earth. The innovative and sustainable farming technologies play a critical role for the challenges on food production and waste management caused by the growing world population. This study evaluated the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in grow boxes in a flooding hydroponics system, using two different soil amendments (vermicompost and biochar) mixed with eight different types of perlites. The objective of the study was to examine which of the two soil amendments can achieve better yield. Therefore, the study showed that Biosolids vermicompost gave better results than the plants grown with biochar.