Cucumber Greenhouse

Cucumber
Greenhouse

Location

UAE

Parameters

Dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, TDS, BOD, COD, ammonia level, total bacteria count, total coliform count, fecal streptococci count.

Type of case study

Irrigation Water Treatment with Oxygen Ultrafine Bubbles

Date

February – April 2022

Introduction

Avior Aqua is a leading greenhouse operator in the UAE. The following were the trial’s goals:

Showcase the advantages of Avior Aqua’s water treatment system for fruit production and plant growth.

Compare the effects of Avior Aqua’s treatment of irrigation water to untreated borehole water and quantify the changes in plant growth, health, productivity yield, and quality.

In order to accomplish this, Avior Aqua has used its oxyfusion irrigation solution, which is based on Ultrafine Bubble technology, to treat incoming borehole water used for farm
irrigation.

The Problem

The main issue was that untreated borehole water, which frequently had low oxygen levels and unpredictable quality, was used for irrigation. Because of the high salt and mineral content as well as the possible anaerobic soil conditions, this resulted in poor plant growth, lower yields, and poor crop quality.

Implementation :

To treat borehole water, install Avior Aqua’s oxyfusion system, track plant development, and yield throughout the growing season, and contrast the outcomes with untreated water. Submit a thorough analysis of the trial’s benefits in plant productivity
and health.

Protocol :

In a greenhouse trial, five rows of cucumbers received water treated with Avior Aqua’s oxyfusion technology, while five rows received untreated groundwater. Both water types, filtered through an RO system and mixed with custom fertilizers, were stored in a 2 m³ tank. The treated water underwent additional treatment with the Avior Aqua machine before irrigation. Similar irrigation cycles were used for both treatments. After 7 weeks, 15 cucumbers from each group were randomly harvested, measured, and weighed for comparison.

Avior Aqua’s oxygenation unit is connected to a
tank of irrigation water.

Cucumbers used in the trial in a greenhouse

At the end of the 7.5-week production cycle, plant height and fruit count were measured for ten randomly selected plants from each treatment group. Detailed methods for plant monitoring, data analysis, water quality improvements, and machine operation are provided in the Appendix.

Results :

After 7.5 weeks, the following outcomes were seen when compared to ordinary, untreated irrigation water:

Fruit production per plant increased by 93.5%; plant size increased by 13.5%.

Fruits’ average length increased by 37.2%.

Fruits’ average weight increased by 60.6%.

Fungi’s ability to reduce root infections.

The fruits (see pictures below) were more uniformly shaped and had softer skin, making them a higher grade class for the market.

A longitudinal section of a plant’s root system that has been watered with untreated (left) or Avior Aqua-treated (right) water. The growth of fungi is what gives the roots their orange color on the outside and within.

Water Quality Improvements :

Dissolved oxygen : increased by 510% (from 4.5 mg/L to over 23 mg/L)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) : Decreased by 57.1%
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) : Decreased by 72.4%
BOD : Decreased by 75%
COD : Decreased by 94.9%
Ammonia : Decreased by 84.4%
Total Bacterial Count : Decreased by 99.5% (from 3000 to 15 CFU/ml)
Total Coliforms : Decreased by 96.6%, E. coli