Treated domestic wastewater for water and nutrient supply in strawberry trough culture system

Purpose: This study seeks to assess the cultivation and production of strawberries (cv. San Andreas) under substrate conditions, utilizing treated wastewater as an alternative water source and supplemented with mineral fertilizers. Method: Conducted in greenhouse conditions, the experiments comprised three treatment groups: (PWF) potable water + mineral fertilizers, (TWF) treated wastewater + mineral fertilizers, and (TW) treated wastewater only. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that using treated wastewater alone (TW) resulted in low productivity and subpar fruit quality. In contrast, the TWF solution demonstrated robust fruit productivity and quality, comparable to the conventional cultivation system using potable water and mineral fertilizers (PWF). Escherichia coli analysis showed no contamination in the fruit samples, confirming the safety of this system employing substrate cultivation instead of conventional soil cultivation. Additionally, the use of treated wastewater led to a 13.1% reduction in the requirement for mineral fertilizers and conserved approximately 4,500 L of potable water for irrigation. Conclusion: These findings underscore the viability of employing treated domestic wastewater for strawberry cultivation, ensuring safe fruit production and upholding high-quality standards. Highlights The application of treated wastewater in the strawberry soilless was evaluated. A comparison of different water and nutrient sources for strawberries was made. No-supplemented treated wastewater did not meet the nutritional demands. Wastewater supplemented with fertilizers was satisfactory in growing strawberries. Treated effluent was used on a strawberry soilless without reducing its quality.