Sustainable Strategies Based on Reused Leachates and Hydrogen Peroxide Supply to Fertigate Cordyline fruticosa var. ‘Red Edge’ Plants

Abstract

Leachate reuse is a helpful tool that contributes to the sustainability of agricultural systems, but it requires previous disinfection. Hydrogen peroxide can be found among the disinfectants frequently applied in ecological production systems. Moreover, it can improve the oxygenation of the root system. The objective of this work was to study its effect on C. fruticosa plants fertigated with leachates. A split-plot design with six treatments, three without an H2O2 supply (S0) and three with an H2O2 supply dosage at 2% (SH2O2), was arranged: raw leachate from C. lanatus (L100), raw leachate from C. lanatus diluted with tap water until EC of 2.5 dS m−1 (LWD), and raw leachate from C. lanatus diluted with standard nutrient solution until EC of 2.5 dS m−1 (LNSD). The results produced data about the evolution of the nutrient and leachate solutions throughout the cultivation period. Morphological (height, leaf number, leaf area, total fresh weight, relative water status, and dry weight) and physiological (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, chlorophyll a+b, and proline) parameters were studied to reveal the plant response. The efficiency of nutrient utilization was higher with the LWD treatment, and water and nitrogen utilization efficiency decreased under the H2O2 supply. In conclusion, the reuse of diluted leachate is advised for nutritionally undemanding crops, such as C. fruticosa; moreover, the H2O2 supply improved tolerance to salinity and enhanced root growth and Red-Green-Blue (RGB) values.