Efficiency Improvement of Soilless Bioponics using Biochar: Resource Recovery of Organic Residues to High Value Vegetables

***Due to technical terminology, in the paper, sludge was replaced by digestate. Therefore, S was replaced by D in the paper (i.e., HSCB_Sludge is replaced by HDCB_Digestate). The objective of this research is to enhance the efficiency of soilless vegetable production using bioponics, utilizing sludge from anaerobic digestion systems as a nutrient source. This is achieved by using biochar to increase efficiency and convert organic waste resources into high-value vegetables. The specific objectives of this research include:(1) To develop and identify the optimal conditions for a bioponic system using sludge.(2) To enhance the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus recovery, improve water quality for plant growth, and increase production efficiency in the bionic system using biochar.(3) To assess and reduce the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in plants grown by the bioponic system using biochar.The impact of this research and the bionic system prototype from this project will create a beneficial organic resource recycling from wastewater sludge to produce high-value vegetable products without relying on advanced technology. It can be easily applied in communities at all levels, promoting a bio-based circular economy that is environmentally friendly. This offers an alternative for urban vegetable cultivation and can be integrated with precision agriculture and smart farming. It serves as a model for grassroots-level technological development in Thailand.

因学术表述规范要求，本文中将污泥（sludge）替换为消化副产物（digestate），故文中以D替代S（即HSCB_Sludge将对应调整为HDCB_Digestate）。本研究旨在以厌氧消化系统（anaerobic digestion system）产生的污泥作为养分源，借助生物水培系统（bioponics）提升无土蔬菜栽培效率，通过施加生物炭（biochar）提升系统效能，将有机废弃物资源转化为高价值蔬菜产品。本研究的具体目标如下：(1) 构建并确定以污泥为养分源的生物水培系统最优运行条件；(2) 提升生物炭基生物水培系统的氮磷回收效率，优化植物生长用水水质，提升整体生产效能；(3) 评估并降低生物炭基生物水培系统种植作物内的重金属生物富集量。本研究成果与项目研发的生物水培原型系统，可在无需依赖高端技术的前提下，实现污水污泥的有机资源循环利用，产出高价值蔬菜产品。该系统可便捷应用于各级社区，推动环保型生物基循环经济发展。该方案可为城市蔬菜种植提供替代路径，并可与精准农业（precision agriculture）、智慧农业（smart farming）技术融合应用，可为泰国基层农业技术发展提供示范范本。