Impact of plasma-activated water on germination, growth, and production of green leafy vegetables

Abstract

In this work, we investigated the effects of plasma-activated water produced by atmospheric pressure air gliding arc discharge on the germination, growth, and production properties of green leafy vegetable seeds. Increasing the plasma activation time from 0 to 20 min resulted in notable changes in the physio-chemical properties of the water, including elevated levels of nitrate and nitrite, hydrogen peroxide, oxidation–reduction potential, total dissolved solids, and electrical conductivity, along with a decrease in pH. Our findings indicate that plasma-activated water significantly promotes germination, enhances seedling growth, and boosts the production of green leafy vegetables. The rate of water absorption by seeds increased with longer exposure times to plasma. Notably, seeds treated with plasma-activated water for 10–15 min exhibited longer root and shoot lengths, increased fresh weight of plants, and improved seed germination compared to the control group. Furthermore, the chlorophyll content in green leafy plants was enhanced when irrigated with plasma-activated water. However, prolonged exposure of seeds to plasma discharges for 20 min resulted in adverse effects on germination, growth, and production. These findings suggest that optimal plasma activation times are crucial in harnessing the beneficial effects of plasma-activated water on seed germination and plant growth.