Public summary

Cucumber trial with Natural Nitrogen

VitalFluid

February 27, 2025

Sustainable nitrogen supply in greenhouse horticulture

Replacing conventional nitrogen in fertilizers with a more sustainable alternative is an important step towards circular agriculture. VitalFluid tested the use of natural nitrogen, produced via plasma-activated water, as a substitute for traditional nitrogen sources in cucumber cultivation. This research focuses on the feasibility and effectiveness of this innovative fertilization technology.

Innovation package, use case, and type of trial

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    Technical functionality

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    Broad research question

    Can natural nitrogen replace conventional nitrogen in cucumber cultivation?

    The cultivation of vegetables such as cucumbers requires nitrogen as an essential nutrient. This project investigates whether plasma-activated water, produced by the VitalFluid Freya unit, can be a viable alternative to nitrogen from traditional fertilizers.

    Approach

    Measurements at a pig farm in Liessel

    At Kwekerij ’t Bleekerven, cucumbers were cultivated using:

    • Conventional nitrogen from standard fertilizers

    • Natural nitrogen from plasma-activated water

    The two cultivation methods were compared based on:

    • Yield and product quality

    • Water quality (pH, EC, cations, anions)

    • Shelf life and visual assessment

    • Dry matter content

    The collected data was analyzed by Wageningen Research.

    Goal

    Determining the effectiveness of natural nitrogen

    The aim of this study was to determine whether natural nitrogen from plasma water can be an equivalent substitute for traditional nitrogen fertilizers. The results contribute to the understanding of the potential of this technology within greenhouse horticulture.

    Results and reflection

    Comparable yield and quality with sustainable nitrogen

    The trial results show that the use of natural nitrogen had no negative impact on the yield and quality of cucumbers.

    Successes:

    • The yield and product quality of cucumbers grown with natural nitrogen were comparable to those from conventional cultivation.

    • The nitrogen from plasma-activated water proved to be a full-fledged substitute for traditional nitrogen fertilizers.

    Lessons learned:

    • Further research can help determine the long-term effects and broader applicability in other crops.

    Leading Partners involved