Comparison of aerobically-treated and untreated crop residue as a source of recycled nutrients in a recirculating hydroponic system

doi:10.1016/0273-1177(95)00817-X

Advances in Space Research

Volume 18, Issues 1–2, 1996, Pages 281-287

https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(95)00817-X Get rights and content

Abstract

This study compared the growth of potato plants on nutrients recycled from inedible potato biomass. Plants were grown for 105 days in recirculating, thin-film hydroponic systems containing four separate nutrient solution treatments: 1) modified half-strength Hoagland's (control), 2) liquid effluent from a bioreactor containing inedible potato biomass, 3) filtered (0.2 μm) effluent, and 4) the water soluble fraction of inedible potato biomass (leachate). Approximately 50% of the total nutrient requirement in treatments 2–4 were provided (recycled) from the potato biomass. Leachate had an inhibitory effect on leaf conductance, photosynthetic rate, and growth (50% reduction in plant height and 60% reduction in tuber yield). Plants grown on bioreactor effluent (filtered or unfiltered) were similar to the control plants. These results indicated that rapidly degraded, water soluble organic material contained in the inedible biomass, i.e., material in leachate, brought about phytotoxicity in the hydroponic culture of potato. Recalcitrant, water soluble organic material accumulated in all nutrient recycling treatments (650% increase after 105 days), but no increase in rhizosphere microbial numbers was observed.

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One important way of recycling solid waste in current BLSS is using microbial fermentation to convert solid waste into soil-like substrate (SLS) which is suitable for plants to grow. It could not only transfer N, P and S, etc. from solid waste to the nutrients for plants, but also release CO2 for plants growth (Trotman et al., 1996, 1997; Strayer et al., 1997; Mackowiak et al., 1996). Therefore, it might be possible to construct a solid waste treatment unit using aerobic fermentation to balance the CO2 and O2 concentrations in BLSS, under relatively controllable and mild reaction conditions.
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Mathematical modeling, design and optimization of conceptual configuration of soil-like substrate bioreactor based on system dynamics and digital simulation
2013, Ecological Engineering
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There are currently several methods employed to deal with inedible plant biomasses. For example, incineration was utilized in order to recycle its inorganic nutrients for crop production (Bubenheim and Wignarajah, 1997); degradation through anaerobic/aerobic fermentation (Schwingel and Sager, 1996; Mackowiak et al., 1996b), acid extract (Gribovskaya et al., 1996), and enzyme conversion methods (Kohlmann et al., 1996) was also studied and applied in order to recover vitally important chemical elements and compounds. However, among the various methods employed heretofore, preparing inedible plant biomass for soil-like substrate was more remarkable.
It will be absolutely necessary to establish a Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) for both manned exploration of deep space and subsequent founding of extraterrestrial colonies, a goal to which our species not only aspires but to which it likely must attain in order to insure its own future survival. Currently constraining the transport and transformation rates of substances in BLSS is the treatment of inedible plant biomass. To overcome this problem, a Soil-like Substrate (SLS) has been employed, rendering sustainable wheat cultivation from an otherwise inedible wheat biomass. The SLS bioreactor which is a specific artificial ecosystem consisting of wheat, earthworms, bacterial microflora, inedible wheat biomass and the artificial environment has theoretically been built in order to investigate the SLS formation process as well as the system's effective design and optimization. A valid mathematical model of the SLS bioreactor was developed and a performance index function (PIF) was put forward for sufficient description and comprehensive evaluation of the SLS bioreactor operation state, respectively. The closed-loop SLS bioreactor with a Linear-Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) servo controller was also designed through dynamic process optimization. The digital simulation on closed-loop SLS bioreactor indicated PIF could robustly stabilize at the desired level with desire dynamic performance specification under the action of artificial environment factors. Therefore, the closed-loop SLS bioreactor which might be built from the mathematical model and digital simulation has the potential to substantially increase both the closure degree and reliability of BLSS.
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It is very important to recycle the inedible biomass of higher plants to improve the closure of bioregenerative life support system (BLSS). Processing candidate higher plant residues into the soil-like substrate (SLS) as the plant growth medium is a promising way to achieve. In this study, three different processing techniques of SLSs, using residues of wheat and rice as feedstock, were compared. As for the first traditional technique, SLS1 was obtained by successive conversion of wheat straw by oyster mushrooms and worms. In the other two methods, SLSs were produced with aerobic fermentation (SLS2) or anaerobic fermentation (SLS3) followed by worm conversion. The changes in SLS cellulose, lignin, available elements and pH were measured during the production processes. The maturity was evaluated by the value of C/N. The fertilities were compared in terms of available elements contents and lettuce productivities. The results indicated that the second technique was optimal, whose process cycle was 30 days less than that of SLS1. The total cellulose and lignin degradation of SLS2, achieved 98.6% and 93.1% during the 93-days-processing, and the lettuce productivity reached 12.0 g m⁻² day⁻¹.
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The object of this research is to study a soil-like substrate (SLS) to grow plants in a Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS). Wheat and rice straw were used as raw materials to prepare SLS. Anti-fungal activity of SLS using test cultures of Bipolaris sorokiniana, a plant-pathogenic fungus which causes wheat root rot was studied. Experiments were conducted with SLS samples, using natural soil and sand as controls. Infecting the substrates, was performed at two levels: the first level was done with wheat seeds carrying B. sorokiniana and the second level with seeds and additional conidia of B. sorokiniana from an outside source. We measured wheat disease incidence and severity in two crop plantings. Lowest disease incidence values were obtained from the second planting, SLS: 26% and 41% at the first and the second infection levels, respectively. For soil the values were 60% and 82%, respectively, and for sand they were 67% and 74%, respectively. Wheat root rot in the second crop planting on SLS, at both infection levels was considerably less severe (9% and 13%, respectively) than on natural soil (20% and 33%) and sand (22% and 32%). SLS significantly suppressed the germination of B. sorokiniana conidia. Conidia germination was 5% in aqueous SLS suspension, and 18% in clean water. No significant differences were found regarding the impact on conidia germination between the SLS samples obtained from wheat and rice straw. The anti-fungal activity in SLS increased because of the presence of worms. SLS also contained bacteria stimulating and inhibiting B. sorokiniana growth.
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Microbial processing of liquid and solid wastes may play a role in the advanced life support systems of nearer term human exploration missions such as transit vehicles to Mars or initial surface bases on either the Moon or Mars. Recycling wastewater (urine, atmospheric condensate, hygiene water) is a critical component of reducing storage and resupply requirements on such missions, and microbial treatment of all or part of the waste stream may improve overall treatment efficiency. As small-scale plant systems (i.e., 5– $10 m^{2} {person}^{- 1}$ ) are used to supplement food storage, microbial processing of both wastewater and edible plant material will facilitate nutrient and water recycling through the biomass production systems.

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Comparison of aerobically-treated and untreated crop residue as a source of recycled nutrients in a recirculating hydroponic system

Abstract

Current concepts and future directions of CELSS

Crop tests in NASA's Biomass Production Chamber. A review of the first four years of operation

Nutrient mass balances and recovery strategies for growing plants in a CELSS

HortSci

Proximate nutritional composition of CELSS crops grown at different CO2 partial pressures

Adv. Space Res.

Characterization of the water soluble component of inedible residue from candidate CELSS crops

Coupling plant growth and waste recycling systems in a controlled life support system (CELSS)

Utilization of the water soluble fraction of wheat straw as a plant nutrient source

Hydroponic crop production using recycled nutrients from inedible crop residues

Development of an intermediate-scale aerobic bioreactor to regenerate nutrients from inedible crop residues

Proximate nutritional composition of CELSS crops grown at different CO₂ partial pressures