Low-concentration methanogenic effluent combined with nitrogen-fixing bacteria as a sustainable nutrient solution for hydroponic lettuce production
摘要
This study evaluated methanogenic effluent combined with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) strain BSN6 as a sustainable nutrient solution for hydroponic green oak lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa L.) cultivation. A preliminary experiment assessed the NFB effects on germination, while the main experiment tested six effluent concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) with and without the NFB using a completely randomized design. The 2.5% effluent combined with the NFB produced optimal growth, achieving 16.66 ± 0.95 cm plant height, 25.60 ± 0.60 leaves, and 39.74 ± 3.21 g fresh weight, which was comparable to commercial AB Mix fertilizer. Higher concentrations (15–20%) caused plant toxicity, with 20% + the NFB resulting in complete mortality. The NFB enhanced nitrogen availability at low concentrations but proved ineffective at higher levels. A preliminary safety assessment showed no detectable copper or chromium in lettuce tissue. This approach offers environmentally sustainable effluent management while reducing synthetic fertilizer dependence, demonstrating significant potential for integrated biogas-agriculture systems.