Aquaponics
-
Upload
prabhakar-nikumbe -
Category
Documents
-
view
1.006 -
download
0
Transcript of Aquaponics
Aquaponics
PRABHAKAR NIKUMBE
What is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is the farming of fish and plants in a single
recirculating system. The waste from the fish becomes the
nutrients for the plants, and the plants in turn remove these
nutrients from the water, purifying it for the fish. In this way,
the fish waste is used to grow a plant crop that becomes a
second income stream for little extra cost. In fact, it works so
well that the plants become the primary crop by volume and
value.
Aquaponics cycle
Types of Aquaponics:
There are three main types of Aquaponics:
1. Gravel Bed Culture (GBC)
2. Deep Water Culture (DWC)
3. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
Gravel Bed Culture (GBC)
In this the plants are rooted in coarse gravel or aggregate
media.
Bacteria grow on the media and convert the ammonia
excreted by the fish to nitrate.
Plants within the grow beds remove the nitrate from the
water, which then returns to the fish in a clean and healthy
form.
No mechanical or biological filtration is required as the
gravel beds suit both purposes.
This method is most variable in terms of the range of crops
that can be grown and there is no waste water discharge.
Gravel Bed Culture
Deep Water Culture (DWC)
The water from the fish is filtered mechanically and
biologically to remove the solids from suspension and
convert the toxic ammonia to benign nitrate.
This clean water then travels down the length of a tank of
water in which polystyrene rafts are floated.
Plants are rooted through the holes in the polystyrene
sheets and into the water below, where the roots take up
nutrients from the water.
DWC is most suited to leafy crops and there is some
discharge of water during the filtration process.
Deep Water Culture
Deep Water Culture
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
As with DWC the water is filtered prior to going to the plants,
but in this case the plants are rooted through holes in pipes.
The tip of the root touches the bottom surface of the pipe
and absorbs nutrients from a thin film of water trickling
down the length of the pipe.
NFT is very susceptible to heat uptake or loss as the air
temperature changes, and the plants can be lost quickly
through drying out during a power failure.
This method also results in the loss of water and nutrients
during filter cleaning, and is also best suited to leafy crops.
Why Aquaponics ?
Aquaponics is not only a most enjoyable way of producing
high quality, wholesome crops as a business or for own use,
but it also has several distinct advantages over both
aquaculture and hydroponics.
Advantages of Aquaponics food production
Fish waste is utilised as plant feed rather than being wasted
Excellent crop quality - both in terms of taste and
appearance
provides a truly organic form of nutrients for the plants
produces an organic product (no fertilizer or herbicides used)
no soil-borne disease as there is no soil
no water is wasted or consumed by weeds
Low electrical usage - commercial system (300m2) runs on
<1kW of power !!!
Systems do not require mechanical or biological filters - the
processes all occur naturally, saving money and resulting in
a natural, stable environment
Low labour requirement
relatively small spaces required as plant spacing can be
intensive
plants grow and develop relatively quickly
Faster cash flow generation than aquaculture
Constant production throughout the year - markets love this
Ability to produce `out-of-season' crops
Crop harvesting is quick and easy, regardless of the weather
outside
Crops can be grown all year-round. In most climates a
greenhouse is required
Higher yields than conventional farming
Faster growth to market size due to optimal conditions being
maintained
Root temperature very stable resulting in fewer disease
issues than hydroponics
No crop rotation needed & No weeds to pull out
Cultivable plants in Aquaponics Bendi - Okra
Cherry Tomato
Daun Pandan - Pandanus
Amaryllifolius
Kangkong - Water Spinach
Keladi - I Yam not Taro
Kesum - Knotweed Leaf
Kunyit - Turmeric
Mengkudu Hutan - morinda
elliptica
Paku - Athyrium Esculentum
Pudina - Mint
Sambung Nyawa - Gynura
Procumbens
Serai - Lemon Grass
Stevia Rebaudiana
Ulam Raja - Cosmos
Caudatus
References
http://www.canna-uk.com/aquaponics
http://affnan-aquaponics.blogspot.in/
http://www.aquaponic.be/en/aquaponics/permanent-watersysteem-nft/
http://www.aquaponics.co.za/what-is-aquaponics
http://oneoftheengineers.blogspot.in/2012/11/what-is-aquaponic-
gardening.html
http://truedemocracyparty.net/2012/02/aquaponics-1-million-pounds-of-
food-on-3-acres-1-pump10000-fish-the-future-of-food/
http://homeaquaponicsguide.blogspot.in/2012/04/aquaponics-systems-
types.html
THANK YOU