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For Canadian Greenhouse ConferenceWednesday, October 6, 2010
Toronto
Nick Savidov Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Crop Diversification Centre, Brooks, AB
So What is Aquaponics
Challenges in Agriculture
Limited resources Environmental impact and nutrient management High energy input Economic sustainability of greenhouse
operations Existing markets are near to saturation in
Europe and North America
How we can address those challengies? Is there “magic bullet”, which will make greenhouse industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly in 21st
century?
We need to continue looking for new ideas, “out-of-box” solutions. In future, we may need to completely change our agricultural paradigm, the way we produce food today.
Example: Integrated Production Systems, like aquaponics, can be one of the answers
The solution may already exist today, but we are not fully aware of it.
What is aquaponics?
Aquaculture + Hydroponics AquaponicsClean water
AerationCleaning Circuit
Solids RemovalNutrient Rich Water
=
What is wrong with this definition?
Fact 2: In integrated systems microflora is an inherent part of the system
Fact 1: In conventional hydroponics and aquaculture systems microorganisms are not desirable
The Basic Process:Fish provide source of nutrients, microorganisms convert organic waste and toxic compounds like ammonium into soluble nutrients available for plants, plants utilize soluble salts regenerating water for fish production
Technically, aquaponics is an example ofIntegrated Production System based on recirculating technology incorporating fish and plant production in one closed loop
Biologically, aquaponics is an example ofartificial ecosystem or agro-ecosystem designed for a purpose of food production
This approach is not new. Biocontrol in existing greenhouses mimics food chain relationships observed in nature
Integration of fish into the greenhouse production takes the concept to the next level creating fully sustainable artificial ecosystems
The concept is simple, but underlying mechanisms are very complex: involve interactions between the many components of the system
Objectives of the aquaponics project
Technical feasibility Food safety Test marketing Economic feasibility
Tilapia was selected in the present study as a fish component of the system
Nile tilapia
Red (hybrid) tilapia
Brooks Aquaponics Facility is based on the Model developed in University of Virgin Island
Plant growing troughs
FiltertanksClarifiersFish tanks
1.5” thick sheets ofpainted styrofoamcut to hold 2” or 4” pots
Building the plant troughs
Generation 4
Biofiltertanks
ClarifierFish tank
4’’
GeoTube Sump
Swirl Separators
P1
P2
Oxygenchamber
4’’
2’’
2’’
3’’
3’’
3’’
DrumFilter
3’’
CO2 degasingtank
LHO
OxygenGenerator
P3LHOpump
Plant growing bed
Parameters of the system Total volume – 73 m3
Plant area – 84 m2
Flow rate – 400 L min-1
Fish production capacity – 4.5 tons year-1
Basil crop production – 2.5 tons year-1
In total, over 60 different crops have been tested since 2002 including four main greenhouse vegetables, leafy vegetables, culinary herbs, flowers, medicinal herbs.
Tomatoes
Bitter melon
Ocimum basilicum
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Amaranth Basil Lemon
Chives Cilantro Purdue
Culantro Fenugreek Parsley Spinach Water cress
Basil Genovese
Basil Osmin
Choi
Coriander
Dill
Lettuce
Portulaca
Swiss Chard
Water spinach
Yiel
d, k
g m
-2ye
ar-1
Annual production of herbs in aquaponics
Strawberry experiment
00.20.40.60.8
11.21.41.61.8
2
April May June July
aquaponicshydroponics
Monthly production of strawberry, cv. Albion, grown on coconut coir using hydroponics and aquaponics solutions
Long English cucumber experiment
Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics in long English cucumber production, number per sq. m
0.05.0
10.015.020.025.030.035.040.045.050.0
Coir Sawdust Biochar
Substrate
Frui
t num
ber
per
sq. m
HydroponicsAquaponics
Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics: Feed Solution Analysis
Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics: Cucumber Fruit Analysis
Height (cm)
Shoot (g)
Root (g)
Height (cm)
Shoot (g)
Root (g)
Basil 30 226 68 35 301 111Rosemary 31 141 119 35 226 290Cucumber 138 1180 219 156 1580 274Tomato 110 1616 198 114 1841 279
Hydroponic Aquaponic
Crop Plant
Effect of aquaponics water on plant growth: comparison of produced biomass in hydroponic and aquaponic nutrient solutions
AquaponicsHydroponics
Rosemary roots
This study indicates that there is a factor stimulating nutrient uptake and assimilation of nutrients by plants grown in aquaponic solutions where nutrients and many organic compounds are derived from fish feed.
Features of the system
The same water was recirculated in the system during eight years and only compensated for evapotranspiration
No sodium chloride or calcium build up during this period
pH had been stabilized No supplemental nutrients added No pesticides used No waste produced in the system at all
Conclusion Aquaponics approach provides a
sustainable organic solution for greenhouse crop production
Aquaponic modules at CDC Research Station, Alberta, Canada
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Canada Dr. Nick Savidov Dan Watson
University of Alberta, Canada Dr. Andrew Keddie Dr. Vipan Bansal Dr. Lisa Stein
Multidisciplinary Team
Massey University, New Zealand Dr. Mike Nichols