Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Vairavan, Balasubramanian
Author's Email Address	bala.vairavan@ttu.edu
URN	etd-11272005-214916
Title	Identifying the critical factors limiting chive growth in a biologically Treated early planetary base wastewater
Degree	Master of Science in Civil Engineering
Department	Civil Engineering
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Dr. Audra N. Morse, Ph.D., E.I.T. Committee Chair Dr. Cary J. Green, Ph.D., PG Committee Member Dr. W. Andrew Jackson, Ph.D. Committee Member
Keywords	chive,wastewater,hydroponics,nitrification,physioc
Date of Defense	2005-06-29
Availability	restricted
Abstract Plants are expected to play a major role in the integration of biological water recovery systems (BWRS) and post processors in an advanced life support system (ALS). The growth of chives (Allium tuberosum and Allium schoenoprasum) in a treated early planetary based waste stream (EPBWS) from two different biological reactors was evaluated in this study. Phytotoxicity in chives due to some of the physiochemical parameters such as ammonium (NH4+-N), nitrite (NO2--N), pH, and high sodium (Na) levels were assessed using a series of hydroponic experiment in an environmentally controlled growth chamber. Complete nitrification in the wastewater treatments were observed in all the experiments, which resulted in the conversion of NO2--N (toxic form of plant nitrogen (N)) and NH4+-N (toxic at high concentrations) to nitrate (NO3--N) (preferred N form for plants). Irrespective of this increase in the NO3--N, chives in some of the wastewater treatments showed poor or no growth. Chive growth was not significantly affected by the high levels of Na present in all the wastewater treatments. However the drop in the pH of the wastewater due to biological nitrification was found to be a critical factor for the growth of chives.
Files	Filename       Size     VAIRAVAN_BalaTHESIS.pdf 1.65 Mb 00:07:38 00:03:55 00:03:26 00:01:43 00:00:08 indicates that a file or directory is accessible from the Texas Tech campus network only.

If you have questions or technical problems, please Contact the Graduate School.