Production efficiency of green beans integrated with tilapia in a circular farming system of media-filled aquaponics

Abstract

Aim of study: To evaluate the biomass production of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in a media-filled aquaponics system together with Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia, GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus).Area of study: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Malaysia).Material and methods: The experiment involved modulating and optimizing the density of extractive species (plants) in the hydroponic tank (55 cm × 35 cm). Five treatments were carried out: T0 (control-without plant), T2 (2 plants), T4 (4 plants), T8 (8 plants), T12 (12 plants) where the stocking density of GIFT was 30 tails (identical in all the treatments). Water volume in each treatment was 800 L and the experimental set up was closed recirculating type. The trials were carried out over a period of 90 days.Main results: Growth of the GIFT was not affected by the presence of green bean or by manipulation of the stocking density. Treatment T4 yielded significantly higher biomass production of green beans (1556.4 ± 88.9 g), compared to T2 (1083.6 ± 86.9 g), T8 (404.6 ± 47.9 g), and T12 (401.8 ± 98.1 g). There were noticeable fluctuations in the concentrations of NH3-N (ammonia), NO2-N (nitrite), NO3-N (nitrate) and PO4-P (phosphate) over the experimental period that indicated the process of nitrification and absorption of nutrients.Research highlights: The nitrogenous waste produced by the fish supported the biomass of the green beans in the aquaponics system and the waste uptake of this extractive species is effective enough for reuse of the water for rearing of GIFT.

Paired Production of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) within an Aquaponics System in Sohag Governorate

“…Hundley et al (2018) observed that the mean gain in weight record was 54.11 ± 22, while the gain of 164.01 ± 55.25 g was reported by Palm et al [35]for Nile tilapia cultured in an aquaponic system. Saufieet al [36]mentioned that the low value of FCR (1.04-1.13) is a good indication of the high-quality feed that the fish can efficiently convert into tissues and thus requires it in smaller quantities to produce a unit weight gain. It can help in predicting the growth of the fish and the profitability of aquaponics.…”

Study of ammonia removal in aquaponic system with Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica chinensis (var. parachinensis)) and mechanical filter for tilapia cultivation

“…The small FCR value indicates that there is almost no dissolved feed remaining during tilapia cultivation. The low value of FCR (1.04-1.13) is a good indication of the high-quality feed that the fish can efficiently convert into tissues, and thus requires it in smaller quantity to produce a unit weight gain [27,28]. The low value of FCR could reduce operational cost for feed cost [29] and a reduction in feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 30% in a fish farm will bring about 20% reduction in environmental impact from the fish culture system [30,31].…”

Crop Hydroponics, Phyto-hydroponics, Crop Production, and Factors Affecting Soilless Culture

“…Water is the first and most important factor for soilless crop production, soilless farming, or landless farming because (a) it initiates imbibition and enzymatic metabolic processes during seed germination through water based culture and substrate based culture, (b) it makes available nutrients and moisture in water based culture and substrate based culture, and (c) it translocates available forms of nutrients from nutrient solution and substrate growing media. , Usually tap water or similar types of impure water are not used in water based and substrate based culture . High purity (distilled or pure) water is required for soilless crop production .…”