Exploitation of Liquid Digestate as the Sole Nutrient Source for Floating Hydroponic Cultivation of Baby Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in Greenhouses

Sustainable agriculture relies on replacing fossil-based mineral fertilizers, which are highly cost-energetic to produce, and demand extensive use of scarce natural resources. Today, agronomic practices within the concept circular economy emerging and, as such, exploitation digestate a biofertilizer soil amender is extensively investigated. This study aimed at evaluating potential liquid sole nutrient source for hydroponic cultivation baby lettuce in greenhouses. Growth rate, physiological responses, concentration secondary metabolites, uptake were compared between leaf grown concentrations 5, 10, 20% diluted water (either with or without pH adjustment) Hoagland solution (control). Results showed that production yield was negatively correlated added digestate. Nevertheless, antioxidant capacity significantly enhanced 5 10% treatments control. Additionally, composition reduction growth media demonstrated efficient by plants. Thus, application fertilizer systems promising practice recover residual resources, leading transition towards more sustainable greenhouse production.