As part of the ECONUTRI Project, an innovative experiment was conducted at the Pilot Greenhouse Park of the University of Thessaly (UTH) with the aim of reducing water use and fertilizer use in soilless cultivation systems.
Between April and July 2023, researchers tested a cascade hydroponic system in which the drainage from a primary cucumber crop was reused to cover the nutritional needs of a secondary melon crop. Since melons are less susceptible to salinity, they were able to thrive using only the recycled drainage solution.
The results were impressive: the melons were produced without any additional water or nutrients, except of those drained by the donor crop, reaching a productivity of approximately 10 kg per square meter.
This experiment demonstrates the potential of cascade hydroponic systems to significantly increase water and fertilizer use efficiency, supporting ECONUTRI’s mission to promote sustainable agricultural practices and reduce environmental impacts.
Photos
