Phosphorus, a crucial nutrient for plant growth, can become a limiting factor in CEA systems due to its potential for leaching. Westmoreland and & Bugbee (2022) demonstrated that excessive phosphorus application in Cannabis sativa did not improve yield or quality but significantly increased nutrient runoff, raising environmental concerns.
Similarly, He et(2023) al. investigated nitrogen metabolism under varying light conditions, demonstrating that increased light intensity enhances nitrogen assimilation but also increases nitrate reductase activity and total nitrogen content.
Nitrate Reductase is known to be a lightdependent enzyme (Deng et al 1991, Lillo 1994) and its positive response to increasing light intensity confirms its role in modulating nitrogen assimilation in photosynthetic leaves. These findings underscore the necessity of light-optimized fertigation strategies to maintain a balance between photosynthetic efficiency and nutrient use efficiency.
Microbial solutions offer promising approaches for nutrient recovery and leachate utilization. Tan et al. (2022) explored the role of Trichoderma harzianum in phosphorus and nitrogen uptake, revealing that its efficacy is highly dependent on light conditions. Under high-light conditions, Trichoderma enhances nutrient uptake, but under low-light conditions, it may shift toward parasitism (further discussed after), competing with the plant for resources.
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