Evaluating a Green Nitrogen Fertilizer Produced by Plasma Discharge of Air and Water

The current nitrogen production technology requires a large amount of fossil fuel based H2, which is unsustainable and results in profound environmental consequences. In this study, a novel, continuous flow liquid- phase plasma discharge (CFLPPD) reactor was investigated to produce plasma activated water that was then used to treat Medicago sativa. It was hypothesized that the use of plasma activated water as a liquid nitrogen source would improve plant growth and germination rate. A formal trial that utilized 1 L of tap water set to 100 mL/min, air set to 0.3 L/min, and power set to 250 W was used for this experiment. Results showed that the addition of plasma activated water as a nitrogen source for Medicago sativa did not yield any significant differences in growth and germination rate. It is hypothesized that Medicago sativa does not require high levels of nitrogen because it is a fast-growing species. Future experiments will examine a more slow-growing species under various parameters, such as varying powers and treatment times