Application of nonthermal plasma technology to the agricultural field for the purpose of sterilizing a nutrient solution in a hydroponic in a plant factory

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25450043
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Horticultural science
• Research Institution: Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Yasui Shinji 名古屋工業大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (30371561)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SHOJI Kazuhiro 電力中央研究所, 環境科学研究所, 上席研究員 (10371527)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 殺菌 / プラズマ / 培養液 / 植物工場 / フザリウム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plasma will become extremely effective for environmental technologies if it can be used as an alternative to agrochemicals. We have been studying the application of nonthermal plasma technology for the purpose of sterilizing a nutrient solution in a hydroponic cultivation in a plant factory. We have been developing a new solution-based plasma generation technique that uses surface discharge. By generating plasma in a solution, the active species in the plasma can directly act on the pathogenic bacteria. We investigated the ability of this plasma treatment method to sterilize microconidia of Fusarium oxysporum, which is one of the most destructive root diseases in hydroponics. It was confirmed that sterilization can be achieved by plasma treatment using inert gases that do not generate ozone, which causes growth inhibition. The results of the experiments on the growth of lettuce show that growth is not affected by plasma irradiation of the nutrient solution.

Free Research Field

プラズマ工学