Growing Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) in Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic systems under a range of saline water conditions by using innovative technologies (agro-nanobubbles and an electronic water treatment system)

One of the most well-known green vegetables in the world, lettuce, has several purposes beyond just nourishment. Customers can select from a range of varieties in the lettuce group. Furthermore, lettuce is a great source of bioactive substances with associated health advantages, including polyphenols, carotenoids, and chlorophyll (Shi et al. 2022). They can grow in almost any system including NTF hydroponics. The nutrient film technique involves plants growing without the use of a substrate by keeping a layer of nourishing solution around their roots. When the NFT initially surfaced, it appeared to be the perfect growth system since it provided the best control over root watering without requiring the purchase of a substrate. Nevertheless, good water quality should be ensured to achieve maximum yields (van Os et al. 2019). Innovative technologies (nanobubbles and electronic water treatment) might show promise for treating high-salinity water for irrigation purposes (Zoukidis et al. 2025). This research aims to investigate the differences in growth and development of butterhead lettuce in an NFΤ hydroponic system between high-salinity water treated with nanobubbles by the combination of two innovative technologies (MAXGROW and generator of agro-nanobubbles) and non-treated high-salinity water. Specifically, the experiment includes 8 different levels of salinity (E.C. 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 dS/m) with each one also including 50% Hoagland solution. The results showed that the combination of two devices can reduce the effect of salinity on the lettuce and achieve greater plant development and yield. Nevertheless, there is need for further research on these technologies and especially further investigation into the effect of the treated water on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of lettuce.