Single-shot LIBS: A rapid method for in situ and precise nutritional evaluation of hydroponic lettuce

Hydroponic farming has emerged as a promising method that can enable year around crop production, particularly in regions with non-arable land. Ensuring precise control over nutrient levels and growing conditions is imperative for optimizing crop quality and nutritional value. However, the existing state-of-the-art nutrient assessment methods demand tedious sample preparation and often prove to be either destructive or offline, lacking in options for in situ monitoring. Previous approaches to nutritional evaluation using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) utilized multiple laser shots or labor-intensive sample preparation to achieve enhanced sensitivity. In this context, we propose a single-shot LIBS system with a custom-made optical collection unit coupled to spectrograph to improve sensitivity and reduce sample damage by employing low excitation energy levels (~ 1.5 mJ). This study demonstrates in situ nutrient monitoring of hydroponically grown lettuce leaves and roots using single-shot LIBS analysis, paving the way for enhanced crop cultivation practices and improved agricultural productivity. Additionally, we discuss energy optimization strategies aimed at improving sensitivity and achieving a high signal-to-background ratio, which are essential for effective and safe nutrient monitoring and analysis in hydroponic farming systems. The results and analysis reveal that highly reproducible and sensitive LIBS spectra can be obtained directly from lettuce plants without any prior sample preparation.