Growth of two different Ocimum basilicum L. varieties on digestate-based peat alternatives in a hydroponic setup

Growth of two different Ocimum basilicum L. varieties on digestate-based peat alternatives in a hydroponic setup | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Growth of two different Ocimum basilicum L. varieties on digestate-based peat alternatives in a hydroponic setup Marielle Trenkner, Iris Lewandowski, Filippo Cappezone, Andrea Bauerle This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9561551/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Peat is the dominant growing substrate in horticulture, yet extraction of peat accounts for tremendous ecological damage, through greenhouse gas emissions and the exploitation of peatlands. Finding sustainable, functional alternatives for peat as a growing substrate is therefore an environmental necessity. This study evaluated two peat-replacement strategies in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic setup, mineral (rockwool) and organic (nutrient-depleted anaerobic digestate) against a peat-based commercial substrate, using two Ocimum basilicum L. varieties ('Genovese' and 'Thai Siam Queen') as test plants. Fresh mass, dry mass, plant height, canopy width, and dry matter content were determined across four substrates in a row-column design with four replications. peat plugs produced the highest yields across all measured parameters. Both digestates and rockwool performed similarly for Genovese. For Thai Siam Queen, the manure-rich digestate (DIG2) performed better than the maize-dominant digestate (DIG1) and rockwool, indicating variety-specific substrate response. As digestates and rockwool did not differ significantly across all parameters, the choice between these peat alternatives is an ecological one. In which the digestate, as a compostable byproduct of an existing agricultural waste stream, which requires no additional production energy, holds a clear advantage over the non-biodegradable rockwool. peat substitutes waste valorization circular economy digestates Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 12 May, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 01 May, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 30 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 30 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 29 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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