Aeroponic systems: A unique tool for estimating plant water relations and NO₃ uptake in response to salinity stress

Abstract

The study of transpiration, water, and nutrient uptake during abiotic stress in the root zone is hindered because of the hidden nature of the root zone. In this study, a modified aeroponic system was used to evaluate whole plant transpiration, nitrate and water uptake in the growth and development of tomato plants in response to salinity. Tomato seedlings were exposed to three levels of salinity (1.5, 4.5, and 9 dSm −1 ) and three levels of nitrate (1, 4, and 8 mM NO 3 ) in a separate experiments conducted concurrently. Whole plant transpiration, water and nitrate uptake were estimated. Our study revealed that ~30 to 35 days after treatment (DAT), water uptake rate per plant increased from a common initial rate of about 0.05 to 1.1, 0.6, and 0.4 kg/day at 1.5, 4.5, and 9 dSm −1 respectively. The NO 3 uptake rates in tomatoes grown in 1 and 4 mM NO 3 were 5.5 and 22% respectively, of the uptake of tomatoes grown in 8 mM NO 3 . The estimation of nitrate uptake and lower sensitivity to salinity stress in the aeroponic showed the effectiveness and cost efficiency of the system in the cultivation of vegetables during abiotic stresses. The novelty of the system described is the continuous estimation of root and nutrient uptake by the whole plant at any given time.

Trends, insights, and future prospects for production in controlled environment agriculture and agrivoltaics systems

“…Also, certain types of hydroponic systems may be susceptible to water-borne pathogens (Maucieri et al, 2019). Additionally, aeroponic systems have mainly been used to grow small plants and have higher investment and management costs than other hydroponic systems (Maucieri et al, 2019;Verner et al, 2021;Tafesse et al, 2021).…”

Aeroponics: A Polytropic Research Tool in the New Era of Agriculture

“…"These units, because of cost, lack features to purify the nutrient solution, and adequately remove continuities, debris, and unwanted pathogens. Such units are usually suitable for benchtop growing and demonstrating the principles of aeroponics" [6]. "High-pressure aeroponic techniques include technologies for air and water purification, nutrient sterilization, lowmass polymers, and pressurized nutrient delivery systems, where the mist is generated by highpressure pump(s), are typically used in the cultivation of high-value crops [7][8][9] and plant specimens that can offset the high setup costs associated with this method of horticulture".…”

Validation of Aeroponic Cultivation of Jalapeño Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) through Thermal and Morphometric Characterization of Roots and Leaves

“…Aeroponics is a soilless cultivation technique [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], it is considered a potential method for cultivation of herbal plants due to the high growth rate and improvement in quantity and quality of production [26,27]. In aeroponic crops, to achieve maximum efficiency, it is important to analyze the environments with which the plants interact.…”