Intensification of Horticulture in Low-Income Countries through Innovative Low-Cost Bioponic Technology

One of the most significant challenges currently facing the planet is, undoubtedly, population growth, coupled with the necessity of developing an appropriate agri-food system capable of sustaining this growth. A promising unexpressed contribution to meeting the global population's need for food security through a sustainable approach is soilless agriculture. This approach has the potential to enhance production while conserving resources, particularly water and soil. One of the most used versions of these farming practices is the hydroponic system, which uses a mineral-based nutrient solution to grow vegetables. A more affordable and therefore more suitable alternative for Low-Income Countries (LICs), as well as an environmentally sustainable one, which, for this reason, should also be promoted in High-Income Countries (HICs), is the bioponic system, which employs organic waste that is mineralized by a bacterial filter to produce the nutrient solution.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of a hydroponic system with that of a bioponic system based on the use of plant waste and poultry manure as organic sources for the cultivation of basil (Ocimum basilicum L., var. Italiano Classico), catalogna (Cichorium intybus L., var. foliosum), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., var. secalina). To evaluate the two production systems, the fresh and dry weight yields were assessed, as well as the macronutrient (N, P, K) content.

In terms of yields, the bioponic system was statistically inferior, while differences in macronutrients contents were less pronounced. Consequently, future studies should focus on improving system functionality and assessing the growth potential of different plants in the bioponic system. Nonetheless, the potential of the bioponic method in LICs remains evident. With proper structural organization, animal manure and agricultural residues could be easily collected and stored at low cost, unlike the minerals used in hydroponic solutions, which are either expensive or even unavailable.