Efficiency Improvement of Soilless Bioponics using Biochar: Resource Recovery of Organic Residues to High Value Vegetables
***Due to technical terminology, in the paper, sludge was replaced by digestate. Therefore, S was replaced by D in the paper (i.e., HSCB_Sludge is replaced by HDCB_Digestate). The objective of this research is to enhance the efficiency of soilless vegetable production using bioponics, utilizing sludge from anaerobic digestion systems as a nutrient source. This is achieved by using biochar to increase efficiency and convert organic waste resources into high-value vegetables. The specific objectives of this research include:(1) To develop and identify the optimal conditions for a bioponic system using sludge.(2) To enhance the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus recovery, improve water quality for plant growth, and increase production efficiency in the bionic system using biochar.(3) To assess and reduce the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in plants grown by the bioponic system using biochar.The impact of this research and the bionic system prototype from this project will create a beneficial organic resource recycling from wastewater sludge to produce high-value vegetable products without relying on advanced technology. It can be easily applied in communities at all levels, promoting a bio-based circular economy that is environmentally friendly. This offers an alternative for urban vegetable cultivation and can be integrated with precision agriculture and smart farming. It serves as a model for grassroots-level technological development in Thailand.