Fate and Risk Assessment of In vitro Hydroponic Cropping System under Dye and Saline Medium

The major global issues are the scarcity in availability of freshwater resources, diminishing environmental pollution, constant increase in the population density, and diminishing fertile land resources for crop cultivation. The availability of land for agriculture in urban and peri-urban is impassable due to dense population. Hydroponic systems are a one-stop solution for dealing with water pollution, water scarcity, and feeding a growing population. In hydroponics, crops are cultivated without soil under controlled environment with constant supply of nutrients and for faster growth rate. In the study, Hydroponic Cropping System (HCS) under saline and inorganic dye concentrations was carried out. The species used for the study was Mentha genus, enclosed in a chamber under controlled environment. Mentha sp. were spiked with salinity of 0 to 3000 mg/L and dye concentrations (methylene blue) of 0 to 15 mg/L. The study found that under saline circumstances, the plants grew unhindered; however under dye concentrations, they displayed hindrance in their growth. At a concentration of 15 mg/L of dye the plant leaf turned into pale yellow colour and gradually the wilting stage is reached. In addition, the risk assessment of pollutants on plant growth was evaluated. The study concludes that possible health risk due to salinity was very less. As clearly indicated, the health risk index (HRI) and targeted hazardous quotient (THQ) values under saline conditions are less than 1 implies less risk associated, but with dye contaminant the risk assessment was on higher side with HRI and THQ values are more than 1. Hence the study concludes that hydroponic crop production is possible in saline water, but suitable pre-treatment needs for dye-containing wastewater for crop growth.