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

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Abstract Aquaponics is a form of sustainable agriculture that combines crop and fish cultivation into a water re-circulation system. Water containing fish waste is pumped to the plants, where nutrient water is absorbed and utilized for plant growth. Alternatively, plants provide filtering of the water of excess nutrients that can be toxic to the fish. This experiment tested two food crops (lettuce and radish) grown in three different medias (soil, coconut fiber, gravel) in two separate aquaponics systems (Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and Floating Raft (FR)) to determine which media maximized plant growth in both systems. Each plant was planted and replicated in each pot (3X) and differing media (3X) as seed and grown for 8 weeks (NFT) and 5 weeks (FR). Growth rates were measured by recording heights weekly and biomass (mg) at the end of the experiment. Both lettuce and radishes had the greatest growth in soil in both systems. I believe soil is the most effective because it supplies the plants with maximum water soil without becoming overly saturated. Introduction Aquaponics is a form of sustainable agriculture that combines fish and plants in a closed re-circulating system. Aquaponics is considered a form of sustainable agriculture because it uses non-renewable resources and on-farm resources efficiently while still sustaining the economic viability of the farm (Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Terms). Unlike traditional farming, in an aquaponic system there is a constant flow of water and more constant supply of nutrients for the plants. The waste created by the fish provides necessary nutrients for the plants while nutrient uptake by the plants improves the water quality for the fish (Rakocy, 1989). A separate biofilter is not needed because the plants act as a water filter when they absorb the excess nutrients that can otherwise become toxic to the fish if too many harmful compounds build up. Fish release ammonia through their waste, and high levels of this waste product can be toxic to the fish, however these levels can be reduced through the process of nitrification. Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite, then nitrate, a form of nitrogen that can be utilized by plants. Thus, when the water returns to the fish tanks, nitrogen levels are tolerable for the fish (Rakocy et al., 2006). The goal in using an aquaponic system is to increase production while
minimizing nutrient inputs and the consumption of water. The plants act as a filter for the water, which minimizes total consumption of water throughout the growing season because it is continually recycled throughout the system and does not need to be replaced with new, clean water. There are many different variations of aquaponic systems. The Nutrient Film Technique, or NFT, uses a continuous flow of a thin layer, or film of water to deliver nutrients to the plants (Figure 1). The plants are placed on a trough and a thin layer of water is pumped to the trough and a continuous supply of nutrients is provided for the plants (Rakocy, 1999). The media in which the plants are grown absorb the water as it flows down the trough and delivers it to the plant roots (Rakocy, 1999). The water that is not absorbed by the media is returned to the fish tanks with more tolerable levels of nutrients that will not kill the fish. Some water is lost due to transpiration and evaporation at the leaf surface.
Page 1: Plant Growth in Aquaponic System th
Page 5 and 6: There are many different medias in
Page 7 and 8: Figure 4 - Lettuce plant grown in t
Page 9 and 10: number that corresponded to a pot o
Page 11 and 12: of this time difference, because it
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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