Plant Growth in Aquaponic System through Comparison of Different ...

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Lettuce and radishes were chosen because they are rapidly growing plants that can do well in the reduced day length and cooler temperatures experienced in the fall in the Virginia region. These plant types were readily available at Lynchburg Grows. The chosen media for this experiment were soil, gravel, and coconut fiber, which were also provided by Lynchburg Grows. All the media types were found on the Lynchburg Grows property, making it convenient to use for the experiment. (Details about the media) Once per week, the height of each lettuce and radish plant was measured in centimeters. The heights were used to measure growth for each plant over time. Temperature, pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen readings were taken at the at the inflow and outflow end of the system. These parameters were used to access the water quality and make sure it was within adequate range for the plants and the fish. Water samples were also taken at the inflow and outflow end every week to measure nutrient levels available for the plants at entry and utilization by the plants in the experiment. The nutrients analyzed are phosphorus, nitrate and ammonia using standard protocols developed for the Systea Scientific discrete auto-analyzer (Easy Chem Methology, 2009) (Put in lit. cited). These nutrients were measured to ensure the adequate levels were available for optimal plant growth. All the plants from both systems were harvested on November 15, 2011. The NFT heights were recorded for a total of eight weeks, while the floating raft plants were recorded for five weeks. The plants in the floating raft had less weeks because the construction of the system was not completed until mid October. All the plants had to harvested at the same time, regardless
of this time difference, because it was the getting near the end of the growing season and the temperatures were beginning to get too cold. This experiment was only concerned with growth over time in different media. The radishes and the lettuce plants were carefully removed from the pots. Then the plant was cut were the roots met the stem. The foliage above the soil and the roots below the soil were weighed separately to compare how much growth was dedicated to the roots compared to the leaves. Data Analysis All the measurements for each plant in each media were averaged together were plotted on a line graph to show growth of the plants over the course of the experiment. A single factor ANOVA compared weights (total, above ground, below ground) of the plants grown in the three media. Comparisons were made for each crop across the three different media within each individual system. P-values were used to test significant difference in the mean plants weights and, therefore, the overall growth among the three media. Results Radish Growth Rate in the Floating Raft The heights if the radish heights for each media in the floating raft system were plotted for each week (Figure 6). The graph shows a similar trend in growth rates of the radishes grown in the gravel and soil. Radishes grown in fiber showed the least overall growth. The radish plants grown in soil had the largest average end height (11.77cm), with gravel close behind (11.19 cm), and fiber last in end height (3.075). (ADD STAND DEV)
Page 1 and 2: Plant Growth in Aquaponic System th
Page 3 and 4: minimizing nutrient inputs and the
Page 5 and 6: There are many different medias in
Page 7 and 8: Figure 4 - Lettuce plant grown in t
Page 9: number that corresponded to a pot o
Page 13 and 14: height (cm) height (cm) 25 20 15 10
Page 15 and 16: Table 1- Average biomass for radish
Page 17 and 18: along with plants grown in gravel a
Page 19 and 20: soil and lettuce grown in coconut f
Page 21 and 22: into the water, providing the plant
Page 23: References Denckia, T.L.K. (2003).

Plant Growth in Aquaponic System through Comparison of Different ...

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