AgriPAW Bilateral Research Project
Assessment of the impact of using non-thermal plasma technology on plant growth and development in indoor farming

Project implementation phases

I. Identification of the technical requirements of non-thermal plasma activated water system for indoor farming

Expected results:

Defining the requirements of the non-thermal plasma (NTP) reactor and the power supply

Analyzing the electrical parameters specific to NTP reactors.

II. Developing the experimental model of the non-thermal plasma reactor, performing experiments to assess the effects of activated water on plant growth in indoor agriculture and dissemination activities.

Expected results:

To define environmental conditions, energy requirements and parameters physico-chemical parameters of activated water.

Report on the possibility of integrating the activated water production system with the PV system.

Protocol for plasma activated water irrigation in controlled environment.

Dissemination of results through international events and scientific papers.

RESULTS

The project has demonstrated the feasibility of integrating non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology with photovoltaic (PV) systems to produce and apply plasma activated water (PAW) for greenhouse applications. Energy analysis of the NTP reactor made it possible to define an optimal operating range and to preliminarily size a PV system capable of supplying the reactor in an autonomous and sustainable way. Chemical characterization of PAW showed that operating conditions of the reactor strongly influence the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which are key for its agronomic effect. Greenhouse tests on Lactuca sativa confirmed that PAW irrigation can enhance plant growth, leaf development and overall vigour compared with conventional watering, especially when PAW is generated under optimized plasma conditions. Overall, the project highlights the potential of PV–NTP–PAW integration as an innovative, energy-efficient solution for improving crop performance in controlled environments and supports further upscaling towards smart, sustainable greenhouse farming

Our Mission

The bilateral collaboration between Romanian and Belgian researchers will bring significant added value through complementarity of activities, access to research infrastructure and exchange of knowledge and experience. The collaboration between researchers from the two countries will enrich the research approach, given our expertise in areas relevant to the project, such as agriculture in controlled environments, electrical engineering (non-thermal plasma technology for the production of activated water) and renewable energy integration. We expect this project to result in publications in international scientific journals and participation in international conferences. The added value for the potential beneficiaries (farmers) is that these innovative agricultural techniques can contribute to improved agricultural production due to a more precise and resource-efficient approach.