Testing of hydroponic method with waste water in Germany

German researchers are experimenting with and utilizing wastewater for hydroponic cultivation to optimize water resources in agricultural production.

The Ministry of Education and Research of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMBF) is supporting the "HypoWave" project - using wastewater treated in hydroponic cultivation and developing this project into a more Water saving is common in agricultural production.

In the hydroponic method, the plant does not grow from the soil but absorbs the nutrients present in the water. Many agricultural companies have applied hydroponic techniques to their production by mixing nutrients into clean water to grow crops. Actually, it is possible to carry out hydroponic cultivation of the crop with wastewater because the wastewater contains a lot of useful nutrients in the plant, thus saving a significant amount of water.

In the hydroponic method, the plant does not grow from the soil but absorbs the nutrients present in the water.

"It is important to treat wastes to create optimum nutrient levels in the wastewater to nourish the crop," said the project's head, GS. Says Thomas Dockhorn of the Institute for Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Braunschweig. That means removing heavy metals, pathogens and other toxic substances in the wastewater prior to use for hydroponic farming.

The research team carried out a trial near the wastewater treatment system in the town of Hattorf, Niedersachsen, Germany. They use a toxic detoxification system in waste water and then use it to supply hydroponic production systems.

In addition, scientists also apply a very important technical measures to keep water for plants. This is to use a thin film to collect the evaporated water and to return to the water collection tank for reuse. This technique is very meaningful in areas where drought often occurs.

However, the next issue that scientists must continue to investigate is whether agricultural waste water treatment facilities like this can produce high-grade food and have Achieve economic efficiency or not. Therefore, the next step that researchers will have to do is to identify the potential and market access of this method of farming through exploratory surveys in different areas.