In the realm of sustainable agriculture and nutritional security, a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur has made a significant stride. Punit Kumar, Priti Saxena, and Abhishek Kumar Singh have explored an innovative method to enhance crop productivity and nutritional quality using plasma-activated water. Their findings, published in the journal “Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing,” offer a promising alternative to conventional fertilizer supplementation.
The study focuses on the use of Plasma Activated Water (PAW) enriched with divalent micronutrient ions such as zinc, iron, and manganese. These micronutrients are crucial for plant growth and human nutrition, but their deficiency in soils often limits crop productivity and reduces the nutritional quality of cereals and pulses. Traditional methods of supplementing these micronutrients often suffer from low bioavailability and environmental losses.
The researchers generated PAW using a gliding arc plasma system in air and prepared ion-enriched solutions at controlled concentrations. They analyzed the physicochemical parameters of the PAW, including pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), conductivity, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). These parameters helped assess the plasma-induced reactivity of the solutions.
The team applied the PAW treatments to micronutrient-deficient soils for wheat and chickpea seeds under greenhouse conditions. The results were promising. The treatments significantly enhanced the germination index, chlorophyll content, and shoot and root biomass compared to controls. Notably, the PAW and ionic treatments increased the micronutrient content in the grains, indicating effective biofortification.
The study also evaluated the impact of PAW on soil microbial activity and enzyme assays. The results showed no toxicity and even a mild stimulatory effect due to reactive nitrogen species. This suggests that the method is not only effective but also safe for the soil ecosystem.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are indirect but significant. Sustainable agriculture practices, such as those proposed in this study, can contribute to food security and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. This, in turn, can support the broader goals of sustainable development and climate change mitigation, which are closely linked to the energy sector. The method proposed by the researchers is green, scalable, and links plasma chemistry with sustainable agronomy, offering a novel approach to enhancing crop productivity and nutritional security.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.