Effects of Utilizing Plasma-Activated Water as a Nitrate Source on Growth and Flowering of Vanda Orchids
The application of cold plasma technology in agriculture includes its use as a nitrate fertilizer, offering an alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers. This study investigated the effects of using plasma-activated water (PAW) as a nitrate source on the growth and flowering of Vanda orchids t...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Chaiartid Inkham Sirajo Salisu Jibia Suchanuch Jaipinta Soraya Ruamrungsri Kanokwan Panjama |
| author_facet | Chaiartid Inkham Sirajo Salisu Jibia Suchanuch Jaipinta Soraya Ruamrungsri Kanokwan Panjama |
| author_sort | Chaiartid Inkham |
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| description | The application of cold plasma technology in agriculture includes its use as a nitrate fertilizer, offering an alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers. This study investigated the effects of using plasma-activated water (PAW) as a nitrate source on the growth and flowering of Vanda orchids through two integrated experiments. Plants were treated with different nitrate concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/L) and fertilizing frequencies (weekly vs. biweekly), in combination with varying plant ages (1-, 2-, and 3-year-old plants). The analysis focused on several variables, including plant height, the number of leaves, fresh and dry biomass, and flowering traits, such as time to bloom, inflorescence length, floret number, floret diameter, and vase life. The leaf nitrate, total nitrogen, and gas exchange parameters were also recorded. The results demonstrate that the plants receiving 100 mg/L PAW-NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> exhibited significantly greater plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight than the control (0 mg/L), with a trend toward a higher leaf number. Flowering occurred earlier in the 100 mg/L treatment group, with the first, second, and third inflorescences emerging at 208, 284, and 304 days after treatment, respectively. Additionally, this concentration produced the highest floret number per inflorescence and the longest vase life (12.63 days). Weekly fertilization resulted in more pronounced vegetative growth than biweekly application, particularly in 3-year-old plants—the only group to flower. Fertilizing frequency, however, had no effect on flower quality regarding the inflorescence length, floret number, or floret size. These findings suggest that 100 mg/L nitrate from plasma-activated water, applied weekly, optimally enhances growth and flowering performance in Vanda orchids. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d3d668460a945258683f241a94d021c2025-08-20T02:33:54ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-04-0111549110.3390/horticulturae11050491Effects of Utilizing Plasma-Activated Water as a Nitrate Source on Growth and Flowering of Vanda OrchidsChaiartid Inkham0Sirajo Salisu Jibia1Suchanuch Jaipinta2Soraya Ruamrungsri3Kanokwan Panjama4Multidisciplinary Research Institute, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Agricultural Technology, Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology, Kano 700223, NigeriaDepartment of Plant and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandEconomic Flower Crop Research Cluster, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandEconomic Flower Crop Research Cluster, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandThe application of cold plasma technology in agriculture includes its use as a nitrate fertilizer, offering an alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers. This study investigated the effects of using plasma-activated water (PAW) as a nitrate source on the growth and flowering of Vanda orchids through two integrated experiments. Plants were treated with different nitrate concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/L) and fertilizing frequencies (weekly vs. biweekly), in combination with varying plant ages (1-, 2-, and 3-year-old plants). The analysis focused on several variables, including plant height, the number of leaves, fresh and dry biomass, and flowering traits, such as time to bloom, inflorescence length, floret number, floret diameter, and vase life. The leaf nitrate, total nitrogen, and gas exchange parameters were also recorded. The results demonstrate that the plants receiving 100 mg/L PAW-NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> exhibited significantly greater plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight than the control (0 mg/L), with a trend toward a higher leaf number. Flowering occurred earlier in the 100 mg/L treatment group, with the first, second, and third inflorescences emerging at 208, 284, and 304 days after treatment, respectively. Additionally, this concentration produced the highest floret number per inflorescence and the longest vase life (12.63 days). Weekly fertilization resulted in more pronounced vegetative growth than biweekly application, particularly in 3-year-old plants—the only group to flower. Fertilizing frequency, however, had no effect on flower quality regarding the inflorescence length, floret number, or floret size. These findings suggest that 100 mg/L nitrate from plasma-activated water, applied weekly, optimally enhances growth and flowering performance in Vanda orchids.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/491cold plasma technologyfertilizer alternativesflowering responsenitrogen nutritionplasma-activated waterresponsible consumption and production |
| spellingShingle | Chaiartid Inkham Sirajo Salisu Jibia Suchanuch Jaipinta Soraya Ruamrungsri Kanokwan Panjama Effects of Utilizing Plasma-Activated Water as a Nitrate Source on Growth and Flowering of Vanda Orchids Horticulturae cold plasma technology fertilizer alternatives flowering response nitrogen nutrition plasma-activated water responsible consumption and production |
| title | Effects of Utilizing Plasma-Activated Water as a Nitrate Source on Growth and Flowering of Vanda Orchids |
| title_full | Effects of Utilizing Plasma-Activated Water as a Nitrate Source on Growth and Flowering of Vanda Orchids |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Utilizing Plasma-Activated Water as a Nitrate Source on Growth and Flowering of Vanda Orchids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Utilizing Plasma-Activated Water as a Nitrate Source on Growth and Flowering of Vanda Orchids |
| title_short | Effects of Utilizing Plasma-Activated Water as a Nitrate Source on Growth and Flowering of Vanda Orchids |
| title_sort | effects of utilizing plasma activated water as a nitrate source on growth and flowering of vanda orchids |
| topic | cold plasma technology fertilizer alternatives flowering response nitrogen nutrition plasma-activated water responsible consumption and production |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/491 |
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