1. Božidar Ilić,
Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Saša Zeljković, Prirodno-matematički fakultet Banja Luka,
Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3. Svjetlana Zeljković, University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Bosnia and Herzego,
Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Intensive agricultural and horticultural practices have accelerated the depletion of plant-available silicon in soils, increasing the demand for sustainable substrate alternatives and resource recovery strategies. This pilot study investigated the feasibility of utilizing mechanically processed consumer waste glass (soda-lime glass) as a partial replacement for conventional growing media. The waste glass was crushed and milled into fine particles with partially rounded edges to prevent root damage and was evaluated using a 630 µm sieve. Preliminary trials were conducted using bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seedlings across three hydroponic treatments (0, 3, and 5% ground glass) and a parallel soil experiment (0% and 5% ground glass). These results indicate that the inclusion of waste glass does not inhibit root development. Hydroponic cultivation with 5% glass stimulated more pronounced lateral root formation and darker leaf coloration. Under soil conditions, the 5% glass substrate noticeably enhanced growth, increasing the average root length from 13.3 cm (control) to 20.3 cm. These preliminary findings suggest that waste glass can serve as a functional structural substrate component, potentially improving aeration, drainage, and possibly indicating gradual silicon delivery, although further larger-scale replication is needed to confirm its statistical significance and long-term biochemical effects.
Ključne reči :
Tematska oblast:
Datum:
30.07.2026.
Contemporary Materials 2026 - Savremeni Materijali
