Plasma treatment of agricultural wastewater using gliding arc discharge (GAD): Production, characterisation, and application of plasma-activated water (PAW) and evaluation of its effects on plant growth media and crop productivity

To decontaminate agricultural waste water and generate reactive species which boost the growth media for degrading pollutant, Plasma treatment is a sustainable technique (1) that linked to Nature-Based Solutions (NbS). By reducing chemical use, PAW improves crop yield and seed germination which we can call eco-friendly agriculture (2, 3). However, more research is needed because there are currently no detailed studies on the long-term impacts of plasma-treated wastewater on soil microbiota (4), the ideal PAW generation parameters for agricultural use, or integrated systems that combine wastewater treatment and PAW production for circular agriculture. Standardised PAW manufacturing methods for crop improvement, a study into the impact of plasma-modified growing medium on plant yield, and the development of an ideal plasma treatment system for the purification of agricultural wastewater are the goals of this study. Through the use of plasma technology, the combined approach seeks to advance sustainable agriculture while addressing current knowledge gaps on system scalability and long-term soil effects. To generate high-energy plasma and creation of large number of reactive species, Gliding Arc Discharge (GAD) electrodes will be used as plasma source (5). Plasma treatment efficiently degrades organic contaminants (such as pesticides) in agricultural wastewater using reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) (6). PAW improves seed germination and agricultural output by influencing plant physiology, whereas plasma-modified growing medium increase soil fertility and microbial activity (7). However, difficulties remain in scaling up plasma systems and optimising treatment regimens for a wide range of agricultural uses (8). The reviewed findings show how plasma technology has the prospective to change sustainable agriculture by (i) replacing chemical-intensive wastewater treatment (9), (ii) enabling precision soil amendments via plasma-modified growth media, and (iii) reducing support on artificial agrochemicals through PAW (10). Scalability and energy efficiency concerns must be addressed in order to promote farmer adoption. Policymakers should prioritise financing pilot-scale studies to solve lab-to-field gaps, even while interdisciplinary research may improve procedures for a range of crops and environments.