Aquaponics Systems for the Production of TomatoesGroup Ka.docx

Aquaponics Systems
for the
Production of Tomatoes
Group: Kadavu
Members: Michelle Angus, Jane Coneybeer, Chun Chuen Li,
Felipe Salvador, Victoria Tycholis
Aquaponics Introduction
Aquaponics: aquaculture and hydroponics combined in a
symbiotic relationship for the combined purpose of raising fish
and produce with fewer dependencies.
Core Relationship
Excretions from the biological processes of fish provide
nutrients for plants
Plants filter toxins out of water for the health of the fish stock
Key Components
Fish tank
Fish species that can live in high density populations (Ex.
Tilapia)
Buoyant grow bed with growing medium (i.e. gravel, foam,
etc.).
Biofilter containing bacteria (Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas) for
nitrification
Circulation system and plumbing
Monitoring equipment
Advantages over conventional farming
Accelerated plant growth rate
Year-round production
Independent from soil

Highly water efficient
Reduced fertilizer dependency and pollution
Versitile location potential
Crews, Antoine. Figure 5. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 29
Apr. 2016, web.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-
050316-101235/unrestricted/Final_Report.pdf.
Slide 1: Victoria Tycholis
Aquaponics is an agricultural system which combines
aquaculture and hydroponics in a symbiotic relationship. The
result of this integration is edible fish and fresh produce from a
single operation (Palm).
Aquaponics relies on two core ecological relationships. One is
between the fish and plants raised. Fish raised in tanks make
excretions that enter the system’s re-circulated water. The so-
called “waste water” from the fish tank delivers bio-available
nutrients directly to the bare roots of the crop plants; this
circumvents the soil-root contact normally required to deliver
nutrient-laden water. By the absorbing action of crop roots, the
plants provide a filtering service to the fish. This allows for
clean, habitable water for the fish to continue developing and
breeding in.
The second ecological relationship is between bacteria and
plants, which enables the first relationship. Bacteria “fix” the
nitrogen that plants need by nitrification. The bacteria take the
ammonia from fish excrement and convert it into nitrite then
nitrate. Two groups of bacteria are required to make the
nitrogen in fish excrement available. Nitrosomonas convert the
ammonia into nitrite. Nitrobacter then convert the nitrite into
nitrate (Nelson). For the farmer, these relationships mean that

fertilizer is essentially being produced on-property. The
enclosed nature of the entire system means that the farmer
doesn’t have to worry about polluting the environment with
fertilizer run-off.
The key components of an aquaponics system are as follows:
The first component is one or more large fish tanks; the fish
that are raised must be able to grow quickly and unencumbered
by high population densities, such as tilapia. The second
component is buoyant growing beds filled with growing medium
such as gravel, sand, or foam. The third component is the
biofilter, which houses the bacteria essential to nitrification-
Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas. The third component is the
mechanized system of water circulation, which can vary greatly
in design; this mechanized system is essentially the pipes,
pumps, and aerator which keep the water moving. Finally, there
must be equipment for monitoring the water quality in order to
optimize fish health. This is a simplified list of primary,
common components. There are many more components which a
grower can use to maximize efficiency, hygiene, and the health
of fish and crop plants.
The advantages of aquaponics are many. The most remarkable
advantage is that plant growth is accelerated! Because the
operation is enclosed, production can occur all year long and
water use is highly efficient. In fact, aquaponics can use
between 90 and 95% less water than conventional agriculture
(Geogh). Agriculture can occur independent of soil conditions
with aquaponics (Patillo). The cost of fertilizer is reduced by
the production of bio fertilizer from raised fish. Finally,
aquaponic production can potentially occur anywhere due to the
enclosed structure and artificial conditions.
Gough, Cherie. “Fish Poop Could Help Us Sustainably Grow
The Food Of Our Future.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 30 Jan. 2019,
www.huffpost.com/entry/aquaponics-fish-poop-

food_l_5c48b7e3e4b025aa26bf6f82?guccounter=1&guce_referre
r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=
AQAAAMPnWyvEly6EEXrVAkYuL6qKxwmZSjndFhGF_DrZv
eJj_ONJeva8s7fO2Aozz3LNHNLuZQkbQHthzUgtyI8QfY2DvJY
6mQyT2txLpJOR9LK26RIXtoqpHCqwe3E9rR4iN3aliOSlyHiMp
82BB6lW_i7q4iK-KwwP0_qWoPgKV_6O.
Crews, Antoine. Figure 5. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 29
Apr. 2016, web.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-
050316-101235/unrestricted/Final_Report.pdf.
Nelson, Rebecca L. "Aquaponic equipment: the
biofilter." Aquaponic J 48.2 (2008).
Palm, Harry W., et al. "Towards commercial aquaponics: a
review of systems, designs, scales and
nomenclature." Aquaculture international 26.3 (2018): 813-842.
Pattillo, D. Allen. "An Overview of Aquaponic Systems:
Aquaculture Components." (2017).
Pattillo, D. Allen. "An overview of aquaponic systems:
hydroponic components." (2017).
2
Aquaponics
An overview of the history and basic practices of aquaponic
systems
Precursors
1000 AD Aztecs develop chinampas
Polycultural farming in South China, Thailand, and Indonesia
Aquaponics- a solution to aquaculture problems
To decrease land, water, and other resource dependencies
Modern Development

Aquaponic conceptual prototype included in the 1969
“Bioshelter”. Fish and crops raised side-by-side to demonstrate
permaculture at the family home scale.
1970’s James Rakocy researches the use of plants as bio-filters
for aquaculture.
Mid 1980’s Mark McMurtry and Professor Doug Sanders create
the first known closed loop aquaponics system at the North
Carolina State University.
What was the first closed loop aquaponics system like?
Fish tank effluent trickle irrigated tomatoes and cucumbers
Crops grown in sand medium, which also acted as a filter
Drained irrigation water recirculated to the fish tanks
A Brief History
Aquaponics is the integration of crop production with fish
farming. Upon entering an aquaponics operation, one would
think it a futuristic concept due to the sanitary indoor setting
full of tanks, pipes, and floating crop plants with not a bit of
dirt in sight. However, the precursors of aquaponics existed in
ancient Mexico, China, Thailand, and Indonesia
The Aztec chinampas, a system of crop “islands” floating in
lakes with fish, date back as far as 1000 A.D.
The ancient Chinese integrated aquaculture of finfish, catfish,
and ducks with crop plants using symbiotic relationships. Ducks
in cages above provided nutritious waste to finfish ponds below.
Waste from the finfish flowed to lower catfish ponds. Nutrient
dense catfish water was then used to irrigate rice and vegetable
crops (Bradley).
The modern form of commercial aquaponics has been
developing since the 1970’s. The original motivation was from
fish farmers wanting to decrease their dependence on land,
water, and other resources.

The idea of raising fish and growing crops on the same property
for self-sufficiency occurred in 1969 in the “Ark” bioshelter
designed by John and Nancy Todd and William McLarney at the
New Alchemy Institute in Hatchville, Massachussettes.
James Rakocy of the University of the Virgin Islands lead the
research in the 1970’s for the purpose of testing plants as bio-
filters for aquaculture fish tanks. The first closed loop
aquaponics system was developed by Mark McMurtry and
Professor Doug Sanders in the mid 1980’s and can be
considered the first modern aquaponics system. The McMurtry
and Sanders system used fish tank effluent to trickle irrigate
tomatoes and cucumbers. The growing medium was sand, which
also functioned as a filter. Irrigation water that filtered through
the sand was then recirculated to the fish tanks (Bradley).
Bradley, Kirsten. “Aquaponics: a Brief History - Milkwood:
Permaculture Courses, Skills Stories.” Milkwood, Milkwood
Trading Pty Ltd, 20 Jan. 2014,
www.milkwood.net/2014/01/20/aquaponics-a-brief-history/.
4
Who and Where
Major Operations Around the World
ECF Farmsystems in Switzerland and Berlin
Superior Fresh, LLC in Northfield, Wisconsin
Kleinskuur Aquaponics in Donkerhoek, South Africa
Practical Aquaponics in Queensland, Australia
The Mississauga Food Bank Aquaponics Farm in Mississauga,
Canada
GrowUp Farms Ltd. in England
And many more being developed in Israel, India, China, and
Africa
“Photo Supplied by Superior Fresh, LLC”. World’s Largest
Aquaponics Operation Opens in American Heartland, NOAA
Sea Grant,

seagrant.noaa.gov/Portals/0/EasyDNNNews/thumbs/653/1751WI
SG_Aquaponics.jpg.
Who or what groups operate aquaponics systems?
Home growers and hobbyists
Missions
Education Organizations
Entrepreneurs
Governments (i.e. the city of Mississauga)
Love et al. “Figure 1B.” PLOS ONE, PLOS ONE, 16 July 2014,
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0102
662.
Where can you find aquaponic systems and who is using them?
An aquaponics system can be designed at many scales, from the
small backyard unit of a hobbyist to the grand, commercial
scale run by entrepreneurs. Even a few government bodies have
begun aquaponics operations for the wellbeing of their citizens.
A great example is The Mississauga Food Bank Aquaponics
Farm in Mississauga, Canada. In 2016, the city of Mississauga
opened an aquaponic farm to produce fresh produce and fish for
the city’s food bank; this is the first and only instance of a food
bank aquaponic farm in Canada. The motivation for this
ambitious and novel project was to address the city’s status as a
food desert; this project was aided a Wisconsin-based company
with farms in Haiti, Malaysia, Austria, and the Caribbean
(Pagulayan).
Large scale aquaponics operations can be found around the
world! There is ECF Farmsystems in Switzerland and Berlin;
Superior Fresh in Wisconsin; Kleinskuur Aquaponics in South
Africa. Practical Aquaponics in Australia; the previously
mentioned Mississauga Food Bank in Canada; and GrowUp

Farms in England. Many more are being planned and in
development in Israel, India, China, and Africa (“Aquaponics in
the World”).
“Aquaponics Market Scope, Worldwide Demand, Latest
Development, Growth Estimation, Business Strategies,
Upcoming Trend and Forecast Report.” Reuters, Thomson
Reuters, 31 Aug. 2018, 05:45am UTC,
www.reuters.com/brandfeatures/venture-
capital/article?id=49584.
Jansen, Carolize. “Aquaponics Adapted for Africa.” FreshPlaza,
FreshPlaza, 22 May 2019,
www.freshplaza.com/article/9107089/aquaponics-adapted-for-
africa/.
Pagulayan, Christine. “Mississauga Opens Canada's First
Aquaponic Food Bank Farm | CBC News.” CBCnews,
CBC/Radio Canada, 24 Nov. 2016,
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mississauga-aquaponics-
1.3865423.
“Aquaponics in the World.” THORILEX, Thorilex, 9 Nov. 2017,
thorilex.com/aquaponics-in-the-world/.
Wiermma, Emma. “World's Largest Aquaponics Operation
Opens in American Heartland.” Sea Grant, Sea Grant, 27 Sept.
2017,
seagrant.noaa.gov/News/ArtMID/468/ArticleID/653/World’s-
Largest-Aquaponics-Operation-Opens-in-American-Heartland.
5
The Benefits of Aquaponics
It has the potential to address:
Fish Trade Deficit

The United States of America import over 90% of the seafood it
consumes worth over $10 billion in trade deficit (Wiermma)
85% of fisheries are exploited unsustainably to meet this
demand
Aquaponics raises fish with ecological relationships for minimal
reliance on soil, water, and space and is a source of fish
separate from the ocean’s ecosystem.
Food Deserts
Aquaponics can exist within highly urbanized environments (i.e.
rooftops or within buildings) and generate affordable produce
Proximity
reduces transport and handling costs
improves freshness at markets
improved affordability and quality to lower income citizens
Examples: Plant Chicago and the Metro Farms companies use
aquaponics to provide quality, affordable fresh produce to the
public from repurposed garages and buildings (Rios).
Environmental Issues
water (Joyce)
carbon dioxide footprint
-free growing mediums
circumvent existing soil on property
One might think, “Why go to the trouble of constructing such a
system? Who needs aquaponics?”
There are many developing issues that aquaponics has the
potential to address.
The first issue is the fish trade deficit going on in the United
States. The United States currently import over 90% of the

seafood it consumes which culminates in a trade deficit of over
$10 billion. Demand for fish supports the over-exploitation of
85% of the world’s fisheries. This imported seafood is often
from countries with lower health standards and acquired through
unsustainable means ( Wiermma). Aquaponics raises fish with
ecological relationships for minimal reliance on soil, water, and
space and is a source of fish separate from the ocean’s
ecosystem (Daniels).
Aquaponics can be a solution to the growing “food desert”
phenomena in developed countries (Payulayan). Within the
United States and many other first-world countries, some highly
urbanized regions have reduced or complete lack of convenient
access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins. A typical “food
desert” only has processed foods available in gas stations,
convenience stores, and local markets; this causes a rise in
nutrition-related health issues of citizins living in such areas
and are suffered most by minority groups. In Denver, Colorado,
a The GrowHaus company open pop up markets selling cheaper
fruits and vegetables for lower-income neighborhoods; this is
made possibly by aquaponics. In Chicago, the Plant Chicago
and the Metro Farms companies use aquaponics to provide
quality, affordable fresh produce to the public from repurposed
garages and buildings (Rios).
Aquaponics also has qualities which combat environmental
issues to some degree. The tightly controlled, enclosed system
conserves water, which addresses issues of limited freshwater
access and droughts. The compatibility of aquaponics operations
with urban environments means that an aquaponic farm
operation can be situated very closely to fresh markets; this
means that less time and fuel must be spent to transport produce
and thus reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Because aquaponics
does not require soil as a growing medium, an aquaponic farm
can potentially operate in regions with poor quality soil where

agriculture would otherwise be prohibitively difficult (Joyce).
Daniels, Paula. “The U.S. Is Almost as Fish Dependent as It Is
Energy Dependent: Essay.” Zócalo Public Square, Zócalo Public
Square, 2 Oct. 2017,
www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2014/08/07/the-u-s-is-almost-as-
fish-dependent-as-it-is-energy-dependent/ideas/nexus/.
Joyce, Alyssa, et al. "Aquaponics: Closing the Cycle on Limited
Water, Land and Nutrient Resources." Aquaponics Food
Production Systems. Springer, Cham, 2019. 19-34.
Pagulayan, Christine. “Mississauga Opens Canada's First
Aquaponic Food Bank Farm | CBC News.” CBCnews,
CBC/Radio Canada, 24 Nov. 2016,
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mississauga-aquaponics-
1.3865423.
Rios, Bella. “Aquaponics: The Frontier to Food
Deserts.” Michiganaquaponics, Michiganaquaponics, 2 Nov.
2016, www.umichaquaponics.org/single-
post/2016/11/01/Aquaponics-The-Frontier-to-Food-Deserts.
Wiermma, Emma. “World's Largest Aquaponics Operation
Opens in American Heartland.” Sea Grant, Sea Grant, 27 Sept.
2017,
seagrant.noaa.gov/News/ArtMID/468/ArticleID/653/World’s-
Largest-Aquaponics-Operation-Opens-in-American-Heartland.
6
Aquaponics as a Sustainable System
Sustainable agriculture systems produce ample food without
degrading soils, depleting natural resources, or polluting the

environment
- Chun
So, what is a sustainable agriculture system?
It is a system that produces ample amount of food without
degrading soils, depleting natural resources, or polluting the
environment.
Link to picture - click here
Is Aquaponics sustainable?
Social aspect (Konig 28)
Help alleviate food supply infrastructure (food desert)
challenges many urban areas face.
Function as a psychotherapy rehabilitation and
“blue and green” infrastructure of cities
Development of short value chains
Help solve water problems (29)
We might take it for granted that our food come freely to us
each day. However, not all countries are as fortunate as the US.
There are places where we call food deserts, those in which
people have difficulty in buying food. An aquaponic system
can help alleviate such a problem in that people in urban places
can grow their own food.

As an aquaponic system utilizes both fish and plants, it helps
foster an environment more conducive to waterway and green
environment with vegetation grown.
Grower can sell directly to consumers using what they grow
within a short time, so food obtained is fresher.
Water problems can be addressed by enlarging the water cycle.
Plants are used to store carbon dioxide and evaporation. So that
buildings can produce high quality water rather than waste
water.
Konig, B., R. Junge, A. Bittsanszky, M. Villarroel, and T.
Komives. “On the Sustainability of
Aquaponics”. Ecocycles, Vol. 2, no. 1, Apr. 2016, pp. 26-32,
doi:10.19040/ecocycles.v2i1.50.
Link to picture: click here
Perspective for Aquaponics
(PROS)
No need for water replacement except to account for
evaporation.
Fish feed on food given and produce waste.
Water media contains enough nitrogen compounds such as
ammonia, nitrate and nitrite for vegetation consumption.
Dissolved nutrients are absorbed by plant roots to reduce waste.
Minimize land, water and energy use (Munguia-Fragozo 2).
Now, let’s turn to the different viewpoints of aquaponics. Let’s
start with the PROS first.
First of all, there is no need to replace water as it is used in a

cyclic system between the fish tank and vegetation tank.
Therefore, fish wastewater can be reused, instead of being
thrown away.
The fish would feed on food given by the farmer and produce
waste in this water.
The water media contains enough nitrogen compounds such as
ammonia, nitrate and nitrite needed for the vegetation, and in
this case, the tomatoes for our group project.
The dissolved nutrients are then absorbed by plant roots, which
reduce waste and therefore provide a cleaner environment for
the fish.
In this way, the aquaponic system would minimize the use of
land, water and energy use.
Munguia-Fragozo, Perla, et al. “Perspective for Aquaponic
Systems: ‘Omic’ Technologies for Microbial Community
Analysis.”
BioMed Research International, vol. 2015, 17 June 2015, pp. 1–
10., doi:10.1155/2015/480386.
CONS:
Hydroponic plants prefer pH of 5.8 to 6.2 (Kloas 180)
Fish has an optimal pH of 7 - 9
Initial setup cost is high
System failure leads to death of fish (183)
As for the counter-arguments, within an aquaponic system, there
is a need to match the pH requirement of both the hydroponic
plant and the fish environment. Hydroponic plants prefer a pH
of 5.8 to 6.2, while fish has an optimal pH of 7 to 9.

Furthermore, the initial setup cost of an aquaponic system is
high and any failure would cause the death of the fishes.
Kloas, Werner, et al. “A New Concept for Aquaponic Systems
to Improve Sustainability, Increase Productivity, and Reduce
Environmental Impacts.” Aquaculture Environment Interactions,
vol. 7, no. 2, 2015, pp. 179–192.
Aquaponics and the Environment
Save water.
Mitigate the problems of population rise, water scarcity, soil
degradation, and food security (Mazyck 170).
Plants are grown without using GMOs (172).
People living in areas with soil problems can still grow grow
food and sell them in their neighborhood.
Through aquaponics, a lot of water is saved. Problems due to
population rise, soil degradation and food security can be
mitigated with the use of aquaponics, since plants are grown
without GMOs.
With soil degradation, people can still grow plants using water.
The food obtained can be quickly sold in the neighborhood
which can maintain its freshness, and thereby food security is
increased.
Mazyck, Sabrina C. “5.5 MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE
AND INCREASED FOOD SECURITY THROUGH
AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY.”
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEBITES, vol. 2, The Ohio State

University,
2018, pp. 169–174.
Tomato Crops Using Aquaponics
Are tomatoes suited for aquaponics?
Not really..
Constant Nitrogen input in the system and lack of other macro
and micronutrients.
The best and easiest ways to grow tomatoes are hydroponically
or in well maintained soil.
Nothing tastes like an organic tomato.
Are tomatoes suited for aquaponic production? Not really.
Aquaponic systems have a constant input of nitrogen (which
leafy greens love) but lack other macro and micronutrients. In
my opinion you are better off growing your tomatoes in
hydroponic systems or in a well taken care of soil medium.
Nothing tastes like an organic tomato.
Different needs for different stages
VEGETATING=Nitrogen
FLOWER/FRUITING= Potasium + Ca & Mg
Low P, Fe, Mn and S.
Full sun.
Tomatoes have different needs at different stages. During their
vegetative stage (about 4 month) they need lots of nitrogen.

Tomatoes love aquaponic systems during this stage. During
flowering and fruiting tomatoes need less nitrogen and more
potassium, calcium and magnesium which the system lack.
Aquaponic systems are also deficient in phosphorus, iron,
manganese and sulfur. Tomatoes like to be exposed to full sun
during their entire life cycle.
Do tomatoes require additional nutrition?
YES!!
1. Top feeding: Adding nutrients to a two part growing medium
2. Foliar feeding: Spraying dissolved nutrient solutions on leafs.
Do tomatoes require additional nutrients besides the ones
available in the aquaponic system? Only if you want to be
successful. There are different ways to provide additional
nutrients to tomato plants in aquaponic systems, top feeding is a
good alternative, where you add nutrients to a two part growing
medium that is compatible with this form of feeding and
aquaponic systems. Foliar feeding is another good alternative
where you spray nutrient solution onto plant leafs.
Proper pH
3 ecosystems to consider:
Fish = Slightly above 7
Bacteria = Slightly above 7
Plants = 5.5-6
Recommended system pH 6.4-6.6
The biggest issue in aquaponic production is improper pH.
Considering that aquaponic systems combine 3 different
ecosystems together, each ecosystem prefers a particular pH.
Fish and bacteria like slightly alkaline water with a pH slightly

above 7. Plants on the other hand like an acidic medium with a
pH of 5.5-6. The recommended pH for the entire system is of
6.4-6.6 so that all ecosystems are somewhat confortable.
System of choice
2 part medium BED
Dutch bucket
Rakocy/UVI model
There are many different aquaponic systems and designs, each
particular system will have it’s own quirks so deciding which
system works better for a particular situation would need a case
by case analysis. Some of the systems we’ve viewed are the 2
part medium BED, the Dutch bucket (Hydrilla, 2018) and the
Rakocy/UVI model (Roosta and Hamidpour, 2011).
Tomatoes
Harvest July through October
High in vitamin A & C
High in Lycopene
Delicious
Tomatoes in Oregon are planted around March and harvested
from July through October. They are rich in vitamins A and C.
They have a high content of lycopene (what makes them red), a
powerful antioxidant that is helpful in fighting illnesses like
cancer. They are delicious.
Advantages of aquaponic tomatoes

Degraded soil
Water recycling
Animal Protein production
With aquaponic systems you can grow tomatoes in places where
it wouldn’t be possible otherwise due to poor soil or soil
degradation. These systems recycle water so tomatoes can be
grown where little water is available. Animal protein is being
produced at the same time, helping achieve a better nutrition
value of the production within the system. Aquaponic systems
have nutritious and economic advantages for the farmers.
Disadvantages of aquaponic tomatoes
Uncontrollable vegetative growth 2 feet/week (Armstron. 2019)
.
More space needed than conventional methods.
Filtration/ Solid waste.
Yields.
Because of the never stopping nitrogen input tomato plants
never stop growing, some farmers report up to 2 feet of growth
per week (Armstrong 2019), this means that in a 8 month cycle
you will have 64 feet high tomato plants complicating any form
of management you wish to perform on your plants. This makes
the space needed for aquaponic tomatoes much greater than the
one needed for hydroponic tomatoes or organic soil based
tomatoes. There is a lot of filtration that has to happen because
there is a lot of solid waste produced. This solid waste can be
turned into solid gold by degrading it into a great fertilizer.
Because of a lack of proper nutrition tomato yields in
aquaponics are inferior to the ones seen in other growing

systems.
Fish in Aquaponic Systems
How does fish choice alter the feasibility and yield of crop
production?
Jane Coneybeer
In this next section, we will be looking at the various aspects of
fish selection for aquaponic systems, as well as the benefits and
drawbacks of several fish species, and finally the optimal water
parameters specific to raising fish in our hypothetical tomato
aquaponic system.
Most Common Fish in Aquaponics
The three largest inputs for aquaponics systems are water,
energy, and fish feed
80%+ of operations utilize at least one edible variety of fish
94% of operations use all-in-one pelleted feed for fish, which
provides further nutrients for plant roots
How does fish choice alter efficacy of an aquaponics system?
Fish variety frequency in 1,293 respondents
A survey conducted in 2014 by David Love et al. on behalf of
the John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future reviewed answers
given by 1,293 respondents regarding the process of starting up
and maintaining aquaponics systems. This survey found that the
three primary inputs in an aquaponics system are water, energy
(for climate regulation), and fish feed. Therefore, it can be

concluded that the efficiency of fish feed is one of the three
major components of a successful aquaponics operation,
regardless of the crop. Regarding the feeding of the fish, 94% of
respondents used pelleted fish feed; the remaining 6% used
other, “nonconventional” feeds, including aquatic plants, live
feed, dog and/or cat food, and human food. This leads to the
second major point of fish selection: the fish must be a non-
picky eater, able to thrive on a variety of feed.
This same survey found that the most commonly used fish are
tilapia (at nearly 55%), and ornamental fish such as koi and
goldfish making up the remaining 45%. Interestingly, 27% of
respondents raised 2 different specie of fish, while a further
18% raised 3 or more species of fish. (see the graphic for a
further breakdown of the fish used). 81% of respondents used at
least 1 edible variety of fish in their operation, highlighting the
versatility of aquaponics as a dual-production method of
farming.
Chart and information from:
Love, David C., et al. “An International Survey of Aquaponics
Practitioners.” PLoS ONE, vol. 9, no. 7, 2014,
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102662.
By: Jane Coneybeer
Fish Selection for Tomato Cultivation
Preferred water temperature of tomatoes in aquaponic systems is
70ºF-85ºF
Warm water fish
Other considerations
Fish size
Feed input
Waste output

Other requirements
Tilapia
Carp
Because tomatoes do best in warm-water aquaponics systems,
the fish selected for the water should be suitable for warm
water. These include tilapia and carp. Tilapia can live in a water
temperature between 60-80F, while carp prefer 73-86F. Using a
fish which can be marketed for consumption following crop
harvesting can help the farmer cover other costs associated with
aquaponic systems, and also aids the overall sustainability of
the technique.
Tilapia is one of the most commonly used fish for aquaponics
systems; a German scientific study by U. Knaus and H.W. Palm
showed that using carp leaves a higher oxygen content in the
water than tilapia. Carp were also found to have a higher feed-
conversion rate, whereas growth by tilapia was achieved faster
and with lower feed input. Tilapia are a smaller fish, and
therefore require less feed overall and produce less waste to
reach marketable weight. Because of this, they achieve
marketable weight much faster than carp and can be farmed
more efficiently. The higher alkalinity of the water pH and
minerality when tilapia were used also aided tomato crop
growth and yield.
Carp image citation: “Woman Holding Carp.” Hawaii Marlin
Fishing, Hawaii Marlin Fishing,
hawaiimarlinfishing.com/underwaterspecies/details/123.
Tilapia image citation: “Randall Bevin Holding Male Tilapia.”

In-Seine, www.in-seine.org/about-us.html.
By: Jane Coneybeer
Optimal Fish Parameters
The success of raising fish is largely determined by maintaining
optimal water parameters!
Several factors to consider
Dissolved oxygen (“DO”)
pH
Ammonia
Nitrates and Nitrites
Temperature
Effective aquaponic systems take into account both the care of
the plants and the fish. Therefore, maintaining optimal water
quality parameters ensures the health of fish and plants alike.
Now that we have determined that the most effective fish for
our hypothetical aquaponics system is tilapia, we will begin to
look at the water parameters needed for the health of the
system.
The first water parameter to consider is dissolved oxygen.
Without oxygen, fish can die in as few as 30 minutes. Dissolved
oxygen can become a problem in larger operations with higher
ratios of fish stocking per gallon of available water. Warm
water fish – such as tilapia – thrive with dissolved oxygen
levels of 5 ppm or higher. Aeration through the usage of pumps
or fountains can provide adequate levels of dissolved oxygen.
Next is the pH, or acidity, of the water. Tilapia prefer pH

between 5.0 and 10.0, while most plants prefer pH of 6.5 or
lower. Tomatoes tend to prefer a more acidic pH, between 6.5
and 7.0, which falls well within the healthy range for tilapia.
Ammonia is released from the decay of organic matter and can
prove toxic for fish. Systems with pH of 7.0 or lower tend to
have lower levels of toxic ammonia. Ammonia should be kept at
less than 1 ppm. Aquaponics systems do provide a natural
biofiltration method which converts ammonia into nitrate
nitrogen, which in turn provides fertilizer for plant roots. This
process first converts ammonia to the equally toxic nitrites, and
from there to the harmless nitrates essential for plant growth.
Nitrates are ideally kept between 5 and 150 ppm for successful
plant growth.
Finally, the developer of an aquaponics system should consider
the ideal temperature of the water. Although tilapia can survive
and reproduce in water ranging from 60º to 80ºF, maximum
growth is achieved between 81º-85ºF.
“Important Water Quality Parameters in Aquaponics
Systems.” NMSU, New Mexico State University,
aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR680/welcome.html.
Image: “Group of Tilapia Stock.” Aquaponics USA.
https://www.aquaponicsusa.com/ap-
info/ewExternalFiles/Group%20of%20Tilapia%20istock.jpg
By: Jane Coneybeer
Aquaponics Compared to Conventional Farming
Benefits, drawbacks and results

Michele L. Angus
Aquaponics Compared to Soils
What are the disadvantages and benefits of an aquaponics
system?
Water use aquaponics vs. water use soil based medium
What are the pro’s and con’s of using different substrat mateirls
in an aquaponics system?
Not as heavy
Different selection of materials
More control of nutrients
What is the largest facility and why are they so special?
Is aquaponics in fact more sustainable?
Water use sustainability
Soil & nutrient sustainability
By: Michelle L. Angus
Aquaponics compared to soils.
There are four questions that we as a group asked ourselves
when pondering the comparison of soils to an aquaponics
system. The first question being, what are the disadvantages
and benefits of using an aquaponics system? The second
question is, what are the benefits of using substrate materials in
an aquaponics system. The third question asks, what is the
largest facility and why are they so special? And the Last
question is regarding whether or not an aquaponics system is
more sustainable than the traditional method of soil?
Sources:

(Photo) “Aquaponics Tomatoes.” Aquaponics Tomatoes :
Aquaponics 4 You, aquaponichowto.com/aquaponics-tomatoes-
aquaponics-4-you/.
What are the Disadvantages & Benefits of Using an Aquaponics
System?
Disadvantages
Expensive Set-up
You need an indoor structure
Constant monitoring of water
Keeping a healthy environment for the fish
Requires electricity for pumps
Can’t grow root crops
If one system fails, major losses can occur
Benefits
Significant reduction of water usage
Plant growth is faster
Vegetables are Larger and Healthier
Elimination of artificial fertilizer
Land reduction
Organic (If fish are fed organic food)
No Weeding
Here we are going to talk about the disadvantages and the
benefits of using an aquaponics system. There are many
disadvantages of using an aquaponics system.
The first of them being how expensive it can be to set up the
system. If purchased from a retailer, the cost of a smaller
aquaponics system can be upwards of $2000, but for a larger
system, it can cost anywhere between 5-10K (McCarthy, 2011).

That’s quite the pretty penny to start a garden and the return
from the investment wouldn’t be seen for years.
Another cost would be the purchase of a greenhouse, or indoor
facility. If you are wanting to grow year-round, you have to
take into consideration the temperature that the fish need as
well as the plants. Just from a quick google search,
greenhouses can cost anywhere from $50 (with cheap plastic
materials and a not so structurally sound frame) to thousands of
dollars (made of glass with metal framing).
The constant monitoring of water I can see as being a hassle
(though you are already doing some of this in your own garden,
making sure that your plants are getting the correct moisture
content during different growing seasons). But you also need to
maintain temperature of the water as well (McCarthy, 2011).
My brother in law has a tilapia farm on his property in the
Philippines, and last year, due to an unhealthy environment,
their tilapia resulted to cannibalism, and many of their fish were
lost. Maintaining a healthy environment for your fish is vital to
ensure you have a good crop of plants as well as a good return
of fish.
The electricity needed to keep the pumps going, could cost a
lot, but if you set up a solar system, this could be remedied.
Unfortunately, with this system root crops cannot be grown, so
if you are wanting to grow these, this isn’t the system for you.
Constant monitoring of the entire system is important. If even
one system fails, you could have major losses (McCarthy,
2011).
There are also many benefits of using an aquaponics system, the
first being the significant reduction in water use. You wouldn’t
think it by looking at a system made up of gallons of water in a
tank, but there is no need to change the water in the tank if the
water is filtered properly, and it has been said on different
websites that water usage in an aquaponics system can be 90%
lower than that of a soil based garden (McCarthy, 2011).
Vegetable growth has also been stated to be faster and bigger

and healthier. They are receiving constant nourishment from
the fish, whereas with soil there are many different factors
disrupting the nutrient uptake of the plants from the soil.
A biggie in my book, is the elimination of fertilizer. Fertilizer
can be expensive (especially if you are growing organically), so
the elimination of it altogether is a wonderful benefit. Fish
emulsion is a great fertilizer for your plants.
Have a small backyard? No problem! With an aquaponics
system, you can grow up. You just need enough space for your
tank, and then you can filter that water through your plants and
back to you fish however you want. Vertical growing is a great
use of space.
This one has got to be my favorite benefit. NO WEEDS!
Because there is no soil, there are no weed seeds! I can’t tell
you how many times I have bought a bag of soil, only to find
that little sprouting’s of weeds start appearing in my garden.
There is no competition from weeds either, so your plants can
grow weed free!
Sources:
McCarthy, Matthew. “Advantages and Disadvantages of
Aquaponics - Aquapanaponics.” Aqua-Pana-Ponics, 6 Feb.
2011, sites.google.com/site/aquapanaponics/4-project-
updates/advantagesanddisadvantagesofaquaponics.
What are the pro’s and con’s of using different substrate
materials in an aquaponics system?
There are many different substrates that can be used in an
aquaponics system. We will discuss what each of them are and
their pro’s and con’s:
1.) Clay Pebbles (LECA)
2.) Expanded Shale
3.) Growstones
4.) Lava Rock

5.) Gravel
Here we will be discussing the pro’s and con’s of using
different types of substrate materials that are available for the
aquaponics system. The different substrates that you can buy
are:
Clay Pebbles (otherwise known as Lightweight Expanded Clay
Aggregate)
Expanded Shale
Grow Stones
Lava Rock
Gravel
There are many different considerations that you want to look at
when choosing a media for aquaponics.
-The first is whether or not your substrate is lightweight. If it
is too heavy, you run the risk of damaging your pants (Uponics,
2019).
-The second is determining if the media substance you have
chosen will provide your plant with support (Uponics, 2019).
-The third is the pH of the plant is important, you don’t want
your plants too acidic or to basic (Uponics, 2019).
-The fourth consideration is whether or not your substrate is
going to stick around. If your media is breaking down, then it
isn’t doing its job, and you are adding to the elements in the
water, which isn’t good for your plants or your fish (or your
wallet) (Uponics, 2019).

-The fifth would be whether of not the substrate of choice is
adding extra nutrients to your water. If it is, you might want to
look at replacing your substrate with something that won’t add
trace elements to your system (Uponics, 2019).
-The sixth would be whether or not the media is providing your
system with beneficial oxygen to water balance and is porous. If
you plant is getting too much water, that isn’t good, but if it’s
getting too much air, that isn’t good either. You want a nice
perfect balance (Uponics, 2019).
Sources:
uponics. “Aquaponics Grow Media [Top 5 Best Mediums for
Aquaponics Gardening].” UPONICs, Hydroponics and
Aquaponics Information, 25 Jan. 2019,
uponics.com/aquaponics-grow-media/.
(Photo’s in slide from same sources)
What are the pro’s and con’s of using different substrate
materials in an aquaponics system?Clay Pebbles
(LECA)Expanded ShaleGrow StonesLava
RockGravelLightweight (Y/N)YYYYNProvide support to plant
(Y/N)YYYYY & N (plant size)PH-Neutral?
(Y/N)YYDebatedYPossibly NNon-degradable?
(Y/N)YYDebatedPossiblyRelease extra nutrients into the water?
Almost NoneNPossiblyAdds Trace Elements into
systemPossiblyBeneficial Oxygen-water balance & porus
(Y/N)YYYYN
The first substrate that we will discuss on this chart, is Clay
Pebbles, or Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate). These
pebbles are balls of clay that were processed at extremely high

temperatures, which produces a porous, smooth aggregate
perfect for aquaponics systems. This is the top choice in
substrate for Aquaponics farmers and here are the reasons why.
It is lightweight, provides ample support for seedlings and
bigger plants, is pH neutral, doesn’t degrade in the system so
you can re-use it time and time again, release barley any extra
nutrients into the system, and provides a perfect balance of
oxygen to water balance (Uponics, 2019).
The second substrate is Expanded Shale. Expanded shale is a
silicone based and is kiln fired which produced a nice smooth
aggregate. This is the second choice for Aquaponics farmers,
the only difference being that it is slightly heavier than LECA
(Uponics, 2019).
The third choice in media is growstones. These are also kiln
fired aggregates which are made from the mixing of calcium
carbonate with recycled glass. Some of the drawbacks of
growstones are that plant matter can collect inside the pores of
growstones (as opposed to other media). They are reusable but
have to be cleaned thoroughly between uses. There is also
debate about the addition of pH to the system as well as the
degradation of the stones over time (Uponics, 2019).
The fourth choice is lava rocks. The one drawback that lava
rocks have in comparison to others is their rugged texture and
sharp edges. The stones aren’t smooth and can damage the
plants as well as your hands when working in the beds
(Uponics, 2019).
The fifth choice is gravel. There are many drawbacks to gravel,
the first being that it doesn’t work well with smaller plants or
seedlings. It works well for taller plants, but not small ones.
Gravel doesn’t hold water because it isn’t porous like the
others, so beneficial oxygen to water balance is lacking.
Another drawback is trying to figure out what type of stone you
are dealing with so that you aren’t accidentally adding
unnecessary nutrients into the soil. Some websites recommend
doing vinegar tests before building your system with gravel to
ensure you don’t have any limestone (Uponics, 2019).

Sources:
uponics. “Aquaponics Grow Media [Top 5 Best Mediums for
Aquaponics Gardening].” UPONICs, Hydroponics and
What is the largest facility and why are they so special?
Largest Aquaponics Facility in the World “Superior Fresh”
located in Wisconsin.
A 720-acre facility built on native restoration property
Organic
Practices ecologically sound water conservation with zero
discharge of production water
They have a 850,000 gallon water tank
Specializes in leafy greens, Atlantic salmon & steelhead
Produces 1.8 million pounds of lettuce and leafy greens a year
Produces 40,000 pounds of fish a year
Houses more than 1,100 LED lights for growing
Uses semi-decoupled system as opposed to being grown directly
within fish tank
Interconnected, separate greenhouses & agricultural operations
Same water used throughout the system, cleaned & recirculated
Water can be circulated continuously, or independently from the
fish system, still utilizing nutrients from fish waste

We are now going to discuss the largest Aquaponics facility in
the world, and why they are so special?
The largest aquaponics facility in the world is called “Superior
Fresh” and it is located in Hixton Wisconsin. They are located
on 720 acres of native restoration property that houses a
greenhouse that is 123,000 square feet. They are also certified
Organic! Not only are they both organic and practice restoration
to habitats located on their acreage, they also practice
ecologically sound water conservation, with zero discharge of
production water (Gottsacker). Sitting on a 850,000 gallon
water tank, that is pretty impressive.
Specializing in leafy greens, Atlantic salmon & steelhead trout,
Superior fresh provides fish and produce for retailers, schools,
hospitals, and restaurants located anywhere from Minneapolis,
Minnesota to Chicago, Illinois. They produced over 1.8 million
pounds of lettuce and leafy greens and over 40,000 pounds of
fish a year (Hein, 2018)(Hein, 2018).
According to head grower Adam Shinners at Superior Fresh, the
facility can be seen from miles away due to the 1,100 LED
lights installed on the facility. These LED lights are
specifically tailored for their leafy greens and provide
spectrums of both red and blue wavelengths with certain
photoperiod hours allotted during different times of the year for
maximum production (Hein, 2018).
When it comes to their system, Superior Fresh does’ things a
little differently. Many aquaponics systems setups their plants

to grow in floating beds placed directly in the fish tanks.
However, their system is semi-decoupled. This means that “The
system has interconnected but separate greenhouse and
aquaculture operations, with the same water usually flowing
through both, then cleaned and recirculated” (Hein, 2018).
Brandon Gottsacker, who is the chief operations officer at
Superior Fresh, had this to say about the benefits to this system,
“It allows us to have a large-scale, high-production environment
for completely different organisms, fish and plants,” he says.
“In addition, water parameters ranging from temperature to
nitrates and micronutrients are measured and adjusted as
needed, but in our setup, we have the option to completely
decouple the systems. That is, we can circulate the water
continuously or control the greenhouse environment
independently from the fish system but still utilize all the
available nutrients from fish waste (Hein, 2018).”
Sources:
(Photo) “Get to Know Superior Fresh.” Get to Know Superior
Fresh, Lakewinds, Wisconsin, 25 Jan. 2019,
www.lakewinds.coop/blog/get-to-know-superior-fresh/.
Gottsacker, Brandon. “Our Story.” Superior Fresh,
www.superiorfresh.com/story.
Hein, Treena. “Growing Mixed Greens at the Largest
Aquaponics Facility in the World.” Produce Grower, Produce
Grower, 23 Aug. 2018,
www.producegrower.com/article/superior-fresh-grower-profile-
aquaponics-hixton-wisconsin/.
Hein, Treen. “IGrow News.” IGrow News, IGrow News, 24
Sept. 2018, www.igrow.news/news/growing-mixed-greens-at-
the-largest-aquaponics-facility-in-the-world.

Conclusion
Do the benefits of aquaponics outweigh the drawbacks?
Is aquaponics, in fact, more sustainable?
Sustainable water use
Less than 10% of water used in traditional agriculture is needed
for aquaponics.
100 Gallons of water added to an aquaponics system could be
reciculated for a week or more
Nutrient Sustainability
Aquaponics provides plant everything it needs, so plant can
focus on growing up instead of growing down to try and find
what it needs
Aquaponics obtains nutrients from water source, byproducts of
fish & media materials.
No unnatural or synthetic or manufactured chemicals needed for
nutrient supply.
No big heavy machines needed for crop production, no soil
compaction, no tiillage. Problems, or soil erosion.
This next slide discusses the sustainability of using an
aquaponics system. In an aquaponics system, we have already
learned that the amount of water used, in comparison to that of
a soil-based crop, is significantly less. One sources states that,
“Less than 10% of water used in traditional agriculture is
needed for aquaponics (Aquaponics source, 2019). This means
that if 100 gallons of water was added to an aquaponics system,

it could be recirculated for weeks or more. Whereas, if you
dumped 100 gallons of water on a soil-based crop system, it
goes into the earth and might be evaporated up into the air and
partially re-used, but not even close to the same percentage of
an aquaponics system. When it comes to water use, aquaponics
is obviously a more sustainable method.
Availability of nutrients in an aquaponics system is a debated
one and here is why. Not all plants are created equal and some
need more nutrients than others, or different nutrients than
others. However, Aquaponics systems do provide many plants
with the nutrients that they need to grow. Also, instead of the
root system having to dig down deep for its nutrients, the plant
can focus on growing up instead of growing down (Aquaponic
System, 2019). Aquaponics systems also provide nutrients via
the water source, byproducts from the fish and sometimes
nutrients also come from the media that it is grown in. Because
of the components of the fish in an aquaponics system, no
unnatural of synthetic or manufactured chemicals can be used
for nutrient supply, so only nutrients that are safe for the
environment can be used (Aquaponic System, 2019).
Because an aquaponics system is maintained in a facility, no big
heavy machines are needed for crop production. With the
elimination of machines, there aren’t any problems such as soil
compaction, tillage problems, as well as soil erosion.
With all of these benefits, it is easy to see that an aquaponics
system is very sustainable when compared to a soil-based
growth system. What do you think, would you make the switch?
Sources:
Aquaponic Source. “7 Ways Aquaponics Is Sustainable.” The
Aquaponic Source, 20 May 2019,
www.theaquaponicsource.com/sustainability-in-aquaponics/.

Benefits
Accelerated plant growth rate
Year-round production
Can grow the same number of plants within less space
Independent from soil issues
High water use efficiency
Reduced fertilizer dependency and runoff
Versatile location potential
Drawbacks
Expensive to start
Requires technical knowledge of aquaculture and hydroponics
systems
Constant monitoring and maintenance (not a truly whole
ecosystem)
Electrical input (sustainability depends on source)
Requires the purchase of fish food, which may or may not be
sustainable
Economic Feasibility
Requires high capital investment
Profit improves with experience and focus on aquaponics alone
(Shchiller).
Profit is mostly from high-value crops and services-fish are
usually a sink for finances
Sustainable or Unsustainable?
Electricity required to pump water is more likely to come from
unsustainable sources depending on location
Fish feed is a constant expense and from questionable sources
such as fisheries (Engels); sustainable alternatives not in high
enough volumes (Souvant).
Final Slide: Victoria Tycholis

Aquaponics has many benefits for the operator and the
environment, as previously described. However, there are
drawbacks. Starting up a new aquaponics operation is expensive
and involves specialized design. Unlike its related industries,
aquaponics requires in-depth knowledge of both aquaculture and
hydroponics systems and how their requirements interact. Water
must be constantly monitored to avoid fish kills. The input of
electricity to run the pump may or may not be environmentally
sound depending on the source. The purchase of fish food is
required and can come from unsustainable sources, primarily
ocean fisheries.
The environmental sustainability of aquaponics depends largely
on the sourcing of electricity and fish feed. As stated
previously, electricity is a required input; although the
operation itself can potentially generate solar or wind energy,
external energy sources are more likely. However, many corners
of the world, including parts of the United States, are
mobilizing for sustainable energy. More sustainable fish food
sources include black soldier fly larvae, worms, algae, and
water plants. However, the transition to non-fish fish feed is
currently slowed by the lack of industry volume (Souvant).
Is aquaponics economically feasible? Most studies and articles
will state that only one-third of aquaponic operations are
profitable; however, most aquaponic operations are in the initial
phase of four years or less with inexperienced owners.
Aquaponic crops are also not usually the primary source of
income for the aquaponic growers sampled in studies. A study
published in in 2014 from John Hopkins University noted that
more financially successful aquaponic operations sold a variety
of products and services, such as consulting and courses.
Profitability was also associated with more experience in
aquaponics. Profit was also higher in operations fully dedicated
to aquaponics rather than an auxiliary source of income
(Schiller). To summarize the feasibility, an aquaponics

operation can be successful and profitable with full dedication,
both aquaponic and business experience, and diversification of
services; on one final note, the profitability of fish can be raised
above breaking even if the fish stock is upgraded to more
valuable fish over time (Bosma).
Ultimately, aquaponics is best suited to urban environments
where space is at a premium and the need for fresh food access
is highest. Innovations for improving the space efficiency of
aquaponics include vertical design or stacking the grow beds
above fish tanks, similar to the design of aquaponic’s historical
precurors. Aquaponics is not sensible or recommended where
there is enough space for more ecologically-driven dam or pond
systems which can be designed for self-sufficiency similar to a
functioning ecosystem (Engels). Unless space is limited and the
location’s conditions do not support other forms of agriculture,
such as within highly urbanized areas, the inputs and risks of
aquaponics outweigh the output.
Bosma, Roel H., et al. "The financial feasibility of producing
fish and vegetables through aquaponics." Aquacultural
Engineering 78 (2017): 146-154.
Engels, Jonathon. “Is Aquaponics the Right Choice?” The
Permaculture Research Institute, The Permaculture Research
Institute, 20 Apr. 2018,
permaculturenews.org/2018/04/20/aquaponics-right-choice/.
“Can a Commercial Aquaponics Greenhouse Be
Profitable?” Ceres Greenhouse, Ceres Greenhouse
Solution

s, 19 Feb. 2017, ceresgs.com/can-a-commercial-aquaponic-
greenhouse-be-profitable/.
Love, David C., et al. "Commercial aquaponics production and
profitability: Findings from an international
survey." Aquaculture 435 (2015): 67-74.
Schiller, Lindsay. “Can a Commercial Aquaponics Greenhouse
Be Profitable?” Hortidaily, Hortidaily, 23 Feb. 2017,
www.hortidaily.com/article/6032510/can-a-commercial-
aquaponics-greenhouse-be-profitable/.
Souvant, Guillaume, and David Doubilet. “Why Salmon Eating
Insects Instead of Fish Is Better for Environment.” Farmed
Salmon Can Eat Insect Feed Instead of Controversial Fish Meal,
National Geographic, 5 Feb. 2018,
www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/02/salmon-insect-
feed-fish-meal-netherlands/.
33
Sources
Aquaponics. “Aquaponics Grow Media [Top 5 Best Mediums
for Aquaponics Gardening].” UPONICs, Hydroponics and

Aquaponic Source. “7 Ways Aquaponics Is Sustainable.” The
Aquaponic Source, 20 May 2019,
www.theaquaponicsource.com/sustainability-in-aquaponics/.
“Aquaponics Tomatoes.” Aquaponics Tomatoes : Aquaponics 4
You, aquaponichowto.com/aquaponics-tomatoes-aquaponics-4-
you/.
Armstrong, K. 2019. Top 12 mistakes in aquaponic systems and
how to avoid them. Interview by John Kohler at Learn Organic
Gardening at GrowingYourGreens. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPkp78Kxbw8&t=1283s
“Get to Know Superior Fresh.” Get to Know Superior Fresh,
Lakewinds, Wisconsin, 25 Jan. 2019,
www.lakewinds.coop/blog/get-to-know-superior-fresh/.
Gottsacker, Brandon. “Our Story.” Superior Fresh,
www.superiorfresh.com/story.
Hein, Treena. “Growing Mixed Greens at the Largest
Aquaponics Facility in the World.” Produce Grower, Produce
Grower, 23 Aug. 2018,
www.producegrower.com/article/superior-fresh-grower-profile-
aquaponics-hixton-wisconsin/.
Hein, Treen. “IGrow News.” IGrow News, IGrow News, 24
Sept. 2018, www.igrow.news/news/growing-mixed-greens-at-
the-largest-aquaponics-facility-in-the-world.

Edits and Additions: Jane Coneybeer
Sources cont.
Hydrilla. 2018. Growing cherry tomatoes in aquaponics.
Retrieved from https://hydrilla.in/knowledge/growing-cherry-
tomatoes-in-aquaponics/
“Important Water Quality Parameters in Aquaponics
Systems.” NMSU, New Mexico State University,
aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR680/welcome.html.
Knaus, and Palm. “Effects of the Fish Species Choice on
Vegetables in Aquaponics under Spring-Summer Conditions in
Northern Germany (Mecklenburg Western Pomerania).”
Aquaculture, vol. 473, 2017, pp. 62–73.
Love, David C., et al. “An International Survey of Aquaponics
Practitioners.” PLoS ONE, vol. 9, no. 7, 2014,
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102662.
McCarthy, Matthew. “Advantages and Disadvantages of
Aquaponics - Aquapanaponics.” Aqua-Pana-Ponics, 6 Feb.
2011, sites.google.com/site/aquapanaponics/4-project-
updates/advantagesanddisadvantagesofaquaponics.
Roosta, R R and Hamidpour, M. 2011. Effects of foliar
application of some macro-and micro-nutrients on tomato plants
in aquaponic and hydroponic systems. Scientia Horticulturae
129: 396-402. Retrieved from

https://megujuloenergiapark.hu/docs/mekut/11_1-s2.0-
s034423811001816-main.pdf
Watch the movie "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room".
Using Catholic social thought and any of the other theories
learned in this course, analyze the moral worth of the decisions
made by Enron and its executives. Also discuss the various
options open to Enron in various situations and choose the ones
you think would have been the best. Justify the choice you make
using resources from this course. 350 words.
Rubric:
Greenhouse Production Of Lettuce
Submitted By: Michael Wilson, Beth Silver, Tieera, Brielle
Buckland, Nathan Tolles

Lettuce
Lettuce is grown in outdoor fields and in glass and plastic
greenhouses. Growing in a covered location begins in the
second half of September and last until the end of April.
The optimal temperature for growing lettuce ranges from 18 to
20 Co, while temperatures of between 10 and 15 Co give
satisfactory results.
Lettuce can be grown from ordinary or from processed seeds.
In order to achieve faster and more uniform germination and
sprouting of plants, it’s recommended that lettuce seeds are
treated prior to sowing with the microbiological growth
stimulator Slavol S.
Ashlan - Keep the greenhouse between 50 and 70 degrees
Fahrenheit during the day. If it gets warm out, open the doors so
that the air inside can cool off. Ideal night temperatures for
lettuce are between 45 F and 55 F. Lettuce can survive brief
cold spells at 35 F, especially when protected in a greenhouse.
A few days at 90 F will stress lettuce but won't likely kill it.
Keep the soil moist and circulate as much cool air as possible
during warm spells.

2
In 2015, annual consumption of all types of lettuce was 25.8
pounds per person.
According NASS, lettuce was produced on 166,800 acres, down
7 percent from 2014, which may be attributed to the severe
drought in California.
The number of farms producing lettuce on 5 acres or less
increased 38% between 2007 and 2012.
Total lettuce production in the U.S. in 2015 totaled 8,087
million pounds with 5.7% of domestic production of head
lettuce exported and 10.9 percent of leaf/romaine exported.
The value of U.S. lettuce production in 2015 totaled nearly $1.9
billion, making lettuce the leading vegetable crop in terms of
value
NASS statistics
Ashlan - Although number of farms, value of production, acres
used, and state production information are not available for
2016 and 2017, the value of lettuce production during 2017 is
$1.5 billion.
Based on most recent production and price averages, the
estimated gross value per acre is approximately $10,400 for
head lettuce. The cost of lettuce production varies depending on

the location. It is labor-intensive, especially for harvest and
post-harvest handling and packaging.
3
Lettuce Production in Greenhouses
Ashlan
4
Hydroponic greenhouse production system
Ashlan
5
With a passive solar greenhouse, no electrical heating required.
You can grow lettuce (Lactuca sativa ) through the winter even
in frost-prone areas.
During warm spring, summer and fall months, it's too hot to
grow this cool-season crop in a greenhouse.
Lettuce needs full sun, so place the greenhouse in a spot that

gets at least six hours of direct sun per day.
Fill the bed with loamy topsoil leaving 2 inches of space at the
top, then add 1 to 2 inches of compost to the bed.
Mix the compost thoroughly with the soil down 6 to 8 inches
using a garden fork.
Add a balanced fertilizer -- like a 10-10-10 formula -- to the
bed and blend it into the soil.
Use 12 tablespoons for an 8-square-foot-bed.
How to Grow Lettuce in a Greenhouse
Ashlan - Keep the greenhouse between 50 and 70 degrees
Fahrenheit during the day. If it gets warm out, open the doors so
that the air inside can cool off. Ideal night temperatures for
lettuce are between 45 F and 55 F. Lettuce can survive brief
cold spells at 35 F, especially when protected in a greenhouse.
A few days at 90 F will stress lettuce but won't likely kill it.
Keep the soil moist and circulate as much cool air as possible
during warm spells.
6
Light’s Impact On Lettuce Growth in Greenhouses
The benefit of growing plants within a controlled greenhouse
allows growers to limit and control the amount of exposure to

different conditions plants are exposed to. Plants react to
different light wavelengths, lettuce is no different.
In this portion I will focus on:
The history of light exposure use in greenhouse production.
Which qualities of light are effective on lettuce growth.
Potential drawbacks of light exposure in greenhouses.
Experiments conducted
LED Lighting and its Effect on Plants, Growers and the World.
– Kevin Wells, GPN.com
Mike Wilson- Being an intro slide I’ve decided to pretty much
recite word for word what’s on the slide. As the
slides/information progresses I’ll be sure not to just read of
script
7
Lights!
Greenhouses require supplemental lighting to compensate for
the sun so plants can carry out photosynthesis.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are now being used more
frequently

LEDs
50,000+ hours lifespan
50-60% less energy consumption
Low heat emissions
Mike Wilson- I’m sure all of you understand that plants need a
specific amount of light and darkness throughout a day to grow
and thrive. Typically plants receive this light from the sun and
utilize it for photosynthesis. Although, in greenhouses this
light is more commonly provided artificially via lighting. Like
most aspects associated with growing a plant in a greenhouse,
light can be and is highly regulated. Research is being
conducted on lettuce seeds to determine which color or
combination of color of light promotes the highest germination
and growth rates. The lights used for this aren’t your everyday
bulbs that many household use though, researchers are using
Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs for their tests. LED lighting is
relatively cost effective and doesn’t require much space as
compared to some other forms of light that greenhouses have
used in the past. High pressure sodium lamps, fluorescent and
incandescent lamps of different spectral emissions don’t last

nearly as long, require large amounts of energy to use, and even
put off unwanted heat on the plants. (Pardo G., 2014)
Sources:
Pardo, G. “Effects of Light Emitting Diode High Intensity on
Growth of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) and Broccoli (Brassica
Oleracea L.) Seedlings.” Annual Research & Review in
Biology, vol. 4, no. 19, 2014, pp. 2983–2994.,
doi:10.9734/arrb/2014/10526.
https://www.heliospectra.com/articles/the-benefits-of-led-
lighting-in-greenhouse-cannabis-cultivation/
https://visual.ly/community/infographic/business/enviornmental
-benefits-led-lighting
8
Drawback for LEDs
Initial cost of equipment
Installation prices
But really, LEDs don’t have many faults:
High-pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures cost approximately

$210,000 compared to LEDs $255,000 initial set-up and 1 year
of use.
Some LED systems can even be controlled wirelessly!
Mike Wilson- The drawbacks of using LED lighting systems
within a greenhouse could vary depending each individual and
their resources available. The initial cost of the equipment and
installation could be intimidating to many, although when
broken down, the return on investment and price saved in
energy use make them much more affordable. When compared
to high-pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures, LED bulbs cost
approximately $255,000 compared to $210,000 (Runkle, E.).
Some new systems being offered to growers can be controlled
wirelessly and can even detect outside conditions to adjust
accordingly. While this may be overwhelming to many, once
understood the benefits and reward are well worth the possible
frustration of learning a new system.
Sources:

Runkle, Erik. “Investment Considerations for Greenhouse
Lighting.” Greenhouse Product News,
gpnmag.com/article/investment-considerations-for-greenhouse-
lighting/.
9
Which Color LED?
Red and Blue are mostly the colors used to achieve the greatest
germination and growth.
Green light has shown to slow or even stop the plant from
developing
Continue forward to see some experimental results from various
tests on light exposure with lettuce plants!
Photo credit: www.Intravision.com
Mike Wilson- Red and blue light wavelength are typically the
color that produce the greatest germination rates and growth
(Folta and Maruhnich, 2007; Lee et al., 2014; Su et al., 2014;
Wang et al., 2015). Other research has found that far-red light
can enhance plant flowering (Deitzer et al., 1979). Green light
wavelengths can even slow down or stop the plant from

developing! So which light, from what source and for how long
is best for growth of lettuce in a greenhouse? I’ll address this
question and more in the following slides.
Sources:
Deitzer, G., Hayes R., and Jabben R. (1979). Kinetics and time
dependence of the effect of far red light on the photoperiodic
induction of flowering in Wintex barley. Plant Physiol.
64:1015–1021.
Folta, K. M., & Maruhnich, S. A. (2007). Green light: a signal
to slow down or stop. Journal of Experimental Botany, 58(12),
3099-3111. Retrieved from: https://goo. gl/veqo8n
10
Results:
Monochromatic red light improved photosynthesis and growth
of lettuce.
Red light stimulation is associated with:
Increase # leaves
Taller growth
42% longer hypocotyl length
Although…
Blue light produced 41% greater fresh and dry
weight….INTERESTING!

Green Oakleaf lettuce transplants grown under different red to
blue light ratios and solar-color-ration lighting.
Growertalks.com
Mike Wilson- The results from Shimizu et al. showed that
monochromatic red light has the best results on lettuce growth.
This light treatment improved photosynthesis and growth of the
Lactuca sativa L. plant. Another experiment reported by Justin
Shaw states that red light also had the greatest impact on lettuce
growth. His study also found the red light correlated with an
increase in the number of leaves on each plant, and taller
growth. Lastly, another study conducted by Shimizu, H. found
that seedlings of lettuce exposed to red light LED had a 42%
increase in hypocotyl length. Although, this same study found
that blue light treatment of lettuce seeds produced a 41%
increase fresh and dry weight increase. This shows that more
research is required to fully understand how the use of LED
light color emissions impacts the growth of lettuce seedlings in
greenhouses.
Sources:
Shimizu, Hiroshi, et al. “Light Environment Optimization for

Lettuce Growth in Plant Factory.” IFAC Proceedings Volumes,
vol. 44, no. 1, 2 Sept. 2011, pp. 605–609.,
doi:10.3182/20110828-6-it-1002.02683.
Shaw, Justin. “LED Colour Temperature and Its Effect on the
Growth of Hydroponic Lettuce Seedlings.” The Young
Researcher, vol. 2, no. 1, 2018,
www.theyoungresearcher.com/papers/shaw.pdf.
11
Summary
The idea of LED light color exposure is still being researched.
Every greenhouse grower should consider the benefits of adding
an LED system and determine which wavelength is best suited
for their specific growing needs.
As we have seen, if growing lettuce red to far-red light
wavelengths has proven beneficial, although there is much still
undiscovered.
Mike Wilson- Read Summary

12
Green House production of lettuce
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND
Beth; In Discussing Green House production of lettuce,
13
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-
ND
Water
Beth; As it pertains to the demands for water for lettuce
production
14

Optimal demands of
water for lettuce
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Beth; We will first discuss Optimal Demands of water for
lettuce ,By having more control of our environment means we
can focus more on reaching the optimal growing conditiosn
needed to grow as much lettuce as possible as fast as possible.
15
Beth; Being in a contained environment with a lot more control
of their growing environment and a higher elimination of
unpredictable weather , growers can :

16
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-
NC
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-
NC
Irrigation
ND
Pest Control
Longer Growing Seasons
Beth; Extend their growing season, prevent and maintain pest
control better and can irrigate their plants a lot easier.
17
Lettuce thrives in soils at temperatures between 60- 65 degrees,
so keep water temperatures in this range if growing
hydroponically

Beth; Being able to reach controlled temperatures during
germination and production is a sure way of having the fastest
production of lettuce from start to finish. Controlling water
temperatures, hydroponically, is possible in this snceario for
best results. You can also control soil temperatures.
18
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Beth; You can accommodate to raising or lowering the air
temperatures in greenhouses with many tools available today,
like propane heaters and sun shades.
19

Positives and Negatives of watering in a greenhouse
Beth
20
Beth; Sadly, watering in a closed environement also can bring
about excess water and with the close proximity and closed air
systems it can allow for mold and other funigi to also breed
optimally. Ceratin pests also enjoy the high water contrnet.
21
ND

Beth; You can conserve water while watering your crops in your
greenhouses. Traditional watering outdoors can tednd to be
more wasteful with th euse of sprinklers or machinery. We have
more control over the water indoors.
22
Beth; Whether you want large scale lettuce production or
personal use, there are many permanenet and semi permanent
options avialable these days.
23

Beth
24
Methods of irrigation and watering system choices
Beth; Growing lettuce indoors in a controlled greenhouse
setting has so many promising innovations when it comes to
lettuce production
25
Benefits of growing hydroponically
Reduces Threat of Pests, Disease
Increases Grower's Control
Equal in Taste, Visual Quality
Upper Plant Growth Optimized
Drainage critical for soil-grown vegetables, is eliminated
Maintenance of the ideal pH level for lettuce is far less
challenging
Weed control is no longer a problem, thus eliminating the need

for herbicide
Since no soil is used in hydroponic cultivation, the problem of
soil depletion is also eliminated
Beth; Benefits of growing hydroponically:
Reduces Threat of Pests, Disease, Increases Grower's Control,
Equal in Taste, Visual Quality, Upper Plant Growth Optimized,
Drainage critical for soil-grown vegetables, is eliminated,
Maintenance of the ideal pH, level for lettuce is far less
challenging, Weed control is no longer a problem, thus
eliminating the need for herbicide, Since no soil is used in
hydroponic cultivation, the problem of soil depletion is also
eliminated
26
Closed Loop System

Beth; There are many methods you can use to irrigate your
lettuce in a greenhouse. The best method is hydroponically and
using the NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) flowing water through
shallow channels using a closed loop system.
27
Hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique
Beth
28
Hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique
Beth
29

Beth
30
Experiments and results
Beth
31
GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION OF LETTUCE
VARIETIES OF GROWING MEDIA.
Nathan - This is a discussion of the possible growing media of
lettuce within a greenhouse production system. The idea of
growing crops in soil only is a somewhat outdated concept.
This discussion will be brief overview of the processes
32
GROWING MEDIA-SOIL.

Mineral nitrogen is very important to control.
Mineral nitrogen is strongly associated with nitrate
concentration at low levels.
Too much application had negative results.
Improved performance with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.
Antioxidant, phenylpropanoid and carotenoid pathways.
Salomez, Joost; Hofman, Georges. “Nitrogen nutrition effects
on nitrate accumulation of soil-grown greenhouse butterhead
lettuce.” Communications in soil science and plant analysis.
(2009) 40(1-6)620-632.
Image from Bing.com “Soil grown lettuce.”
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=D88E2
C5D03162DDA162EE224149A270A61CF21CB&thid=OIP.8nSA
0GUbBAUp1AHeJgsBfQHaJl&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fww
w.almanac.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fprim
ary_image_in_article%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Flettuce_rows.jpg
%3Fitok%3D-
Bc47El7&exph=932&expw=720&q=lettuce+in+soil&selectedin
dex=13&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=1,2,6

Nathan - It is obvious to assume that we can grow lettuce within
a soil profile. What is not obvious is that growing lettuce in
soil requires a strict control of mineral nitrogen. Mineral
nitrogen is strongly associated with nitrate concentration (less
than 100 kg N ha^-1) (Salomez, et al, 2009). This is important
to know because applying too much nitrogen has a negative
result. This can be considered the downside to growing lettuce
in soil, but an advantage would be that in soil the plant can
engage in a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi. This
helps the plants with antioxidant, phenylpropanoid, and
carotenoid pathways.
33
GROWING MEDIA- SOIL SUBSTITUTES.
Sewage sludge sugarcane trash based compost.
Synthetic aggregates (low productive acidic red soil, paper
waste, starch waste).
Study showed that a combination of the above can be a
good substitute to peat.
The sewage sludge is cheaper.

Jayasinghe, G.Y.; Arakaki, Mika. “Sewage sludge sugarcane
trash based compost and synthetic aggregates as peat substitutes
in containerized media for crop production.” Journal of
hazardous material. (2010) 174(1-3)700-706.
Picture from Bing.com “Lettuce in sludge soil substitute” and
“lettuce seedbed.”
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=27C01
A8170CA3FABAEA4A7A154E2096FFDDE57AF&thid=OIP.gO
5CEMYCsF55EosC4emj0gHaJ4&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fw
ww.sustainablemarketfarming.com%2Fwp-
content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F01%2FLettuce-seed-bed-Muir-
Jericho-Sierra-
W.jpg&exph=1600&expw=1200&q=Lettuce+in+Seedbed&select
edindex=5&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=1,2,6

Nathan - Part of this slide might sound somewhat gross, but it
has been mentioned that sewage sludge mixed with soil
aggregates could be used as a soil substitute. The sludge
provides nutrients, while the soil aggregates provide structural
support.
This substitute was investigated along with peat as a control.
The result showed that the plants growing in the mixture of
sewage and soil aggregates outperformed the ones growing in
peat alone.
Since soil is a limited resource, this concept may gained
ground, so to speak.
34
GROWING MEDIA—HYDROPONCS.
Soilless growing method.
Sustainable?
Comparison with conventional methods.
Water consumption.
Energy use.
Still sustainable?
The most popular method.
(Picture obtained from eBay.com through Bing Search engine,

accessed 2019.
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTY2WDg0OA==/z/tVIAAOSwrklVJ
POe/$_32.JPG?set_id=880000500F )
(Statistics from Guilherme, Lages Barbosa, et al. “Comparison
of land, water, and energy requirements of lettuce grown using
hydroponic vs. conventional agricultural methods.”
International journal of environmental research and public
health. (2015) 12(6), 6879-6891.g
Nathan - The next growing medium that we will be discussing is
hydroponics.
In short, it is a growing method that does not use soil. Instead,
it uses nutritious water in its place.
With the use of water, it is fair to ask, “Is it sustainable?
Compared to conventional systems, how much water and energy
will it use?”
In a study of a hydroponic system in Yuma, Arizona, Guilherme
Barbosa and others studied this very question.
They found that compared to a conventional system,
hydroponics produces 11 times greater yield per area.
With water consumption, both systems are comparable. So
basically the same. However, in comparing yield, hydroponics
produces 13 times more.

With energy, there is unfortunately more energy used due to the
controlled environment. Heating and cooling (74000 kJ/kg/y),
supplemental lighting (15000 kJ/kg/y), circulating pumps (640
kJ/kg/y), and this all totals out to be 90000 kJ/kg/y.
Is it still sustainable? It eventually has higher yields and
efficient water use. There is more energy due to controlled
environments, but longer production time—possibly year-round.
35
GROWING MEDIA- AQUAPONICS.
Soilless cultivation and aquaculture.
Plants use nutrients from fish waste.
Environmentally friendly due to full use of water.
Study with lettuce and tilapia versus hydroponic lettuce.
Leaves poorer in P but richer in Ca, K, Mg, Na.
Pontenella, E; et al. “Aquaponics vs. hydroponics: production
and quality of lettuce crop.” XXVIII International horticultural
congress on science and horticulture for people (IHC2010).
Picture from Bing.com “Lettuce aquaponics”
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=9CAB
F0BF6A0C05864F7D60F6F6B7CCCCF09FF8DD&thid=OIP.B5
FPuRiNx8Ljb-
OWiq7W_wHaE8&mediaurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.berne

ws.com%2Fwp-
content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2F5540e5d6d494b.image_.
jpg&exph=800&expw=1200&q=lettuce+aquaponics&selectedind
ex=10&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=1,2,6
Nathan - The last growing media we will look at is aquaponics.
This soilless medium is a combination of hydroponic growing
medium and aquaculture, or fish as livestock. The plants use
the nutrients from the fish waste, while the water is recycled by
the plants. This system is very environmentally friendly due to
the efficient and full use of water.
There was a study done with lettuce grown hydroponically
compared to an aquaponics system with lettuce and tilapia. The
result was that the aquaponic lettuce had poorer amounts of
phosphorus, but higher amounts of calcium, potassium,
magnesium, and sodium.
36
Greenhouse production of lettuce
Brielle Buckland
Selection of Lettuce Varieties

Lettuce germination
Greenhouse Conditions
*No audio
37
Establishing a hydroponic greenhouse requires a large initial
investment so growers must choose varieties that have a high
market value and can produce the qualities the intended market
demands.
Varieties are chosen based on those that do well in greenhouse
settings, have a high disease resistance, varieties that display a
lot of color, specific varieties are chosen for winter or summer
conditions, and varieties that maintain sufficient growth in
winter.
The most common greenhouse lettuce varieties are loose-leaf,
butterhead and romaine.
https://images-na.ssl-images-

amazon.com/images/I/817kLXJdAAL._SX425_.jpg
Selection of Lettuce Varieties
https://d2lnr5mha7bycj.cloudfront.net/product-
image/file/large_773d2bce-2e5f-43cd-b36e-889a320d14f1.jpg
https://www.directcoops.com/wp-
content/uploads/2019/03/Romaine-Lettuce-Hearts-3-count-
Bag.jpg
Brielle
38
Seed Germination
For greenhouse production seeds are typically germinated in a
soilless medium, such as peat, perlite or rockwool.
Optimum germination for lettuce under these conditions is 64-
68 F and will require low radiation lighting and high humidity.
Overhead irrigation can inhibit germination, so sub-irrigation is
used during this time.

http://gpnmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Fig3-Lettuce-
Seedlings.jpg
https://encrypted-
tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDltCyHrhfNgPxPe020
xcAxf5bAiaAlUtoKTnvIajSnW533HS8Nw
Brielle
39
The temperature of a plants shoots and roots impact a variety of
physiological processes.
Photosynthetic functions, thylakoid membranes, enzymes such
as rubisco and those involved in the metabolism of carbon can
all be negatively affected by high air temperatures. Therefore,
finding and maintaining optimum temperatures within a
greenhouse is imperative to successful production.
Root zone climate control is a method used in greenhouses to
optimize production. If root temperatures are too low, water
uptake can be inhibited thus inhibiting the growth of leaves. On
the other hand, root zone cooling can also be utilized in warm
conditions to prevent bolting and the incidence of certain fungal

infections.
So, while high air temperatures can negatively affect lettuce
production, the use of root zone climate control can be
supplemented as a mediator to minimize damage and maximize
yield under these conditions. Optimizing root zone temperature
can allow lettuce to be grown in warmer areas previously not
suitable.
Greenhouse Conditions
Brielle
40
Conclusion
Farming of lettuce crop in a greenhouse, increases crop
production due to regulated conditions.
Greenhouses are constructed in away that maximize sunlight.
The green house is painted in away that they reflect much light
as possible.
The material used to construct greenhouses are either made of
glass or plastic which allow are transparent therefore, allowing

light to pass through easily.
This condition enables lettuce crop to absorb enough energy
inform of light for photosynthesis hence increase of yields
Ashlan
41
Greenhouses regulate the amount of evaporation that takes place
in its microenvironment. This reduces the amount of
evaporation and prevent crop from wilting hence more
production.
Lettuce crop require more water due to large surface area of
their leaf due to this, the plant require a better regulated
environment which greenhouse for maximum yield.
In greenhouse, amount of water every crop get can be regulated
by micro sensors connected to computers, therefore, conserving
water while getting maximum production.
In conclusion, various variety of lettuce crop grow differently
in different greenhouse condition, its therefore suitable to chose
suitable variety such loose-leaf, butter head and romaine. This
variety give maximum yield in ideal green house condition.

Ashlan
42
References
13 Advantages Of Growing Plants Within A Greenhouse. (2018,
November 10). Retrieved August 13, 2019, from
https://greenerideal.com/guides/13-advantages-of-growing-
plants-within-a-greenhouse/
Barbosa, G., Gadelha, F., Kublik, N., Proctor, A., Reichelm, L.,
Weissinger, E., . . . Halden, R. (2015). Comparison of Land,
Water, and Energy Requirements of Lettuce Grown Using
Hydroponic vs. Conventional Agricultural
Methods. International Journal of Environmental Research and
Public Health,12(6), 6879-6891. doi:10.3390/ijerph120606879
Baslam, M., Garmendia, I., & Goicoechea, N. (2011).
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improved growth and
nutritional quality of greenhouse-grown lettuce. Journal of
agricultural and food chemistry, 59(10), 5504-5515.

Deitzer, G. F., Hayes, R., & Jabben, M. (1979). Kinetics and
Time Dependence of the Effect of Far Red Light on the
Photoperiodic Induction of Flowering in Wintex Barley. Plant
Physiology,64(6), 1015-1021. doi:10.1104/pp.64.6.1015
Domingues, D. S., Takahashi, H. W., Camara, C. A., & Nixdorf,
S. L. (2012). Automated system developed to control pH and
concentration of nutrient solution evaluated in hydroponic
lettuce production. Computers and Electronics in
Agriculture,84, 53-61. doi:10.1016/j.compag.2012.02.006
Environmental Benefits of LED Lighting. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://visual.ly/community/infographic/business/enviornmental
-benefits-led-lighting
Ernst, M., & Kaiser, C. (2016, September). Hydroponic Lettuce.
Retrieved August 12, 2019, from
https://www.plantgrower.org/uploads/6/5/5/4/65545169/hydrolet
tuce.pdf
Folta, K. M., & Maruhnich, S. A. (2007). Green light: A signal
to slow down or stop. Journal of Experimental Botany,58(12),
3099-3111. doi:10.1093/jxb/erm130

Halden, R. (2015). Comparison of Land, Water, and Energy
Requirements of Lettuce Grown Using Hydroponic vs.
Conventional Agricultural Methods. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health,12(6), 6879-6891.
doi:10.3390/ijerph120606879
Grobelak, A., Stępień, W., & Kacprzak, M. (2016). Sewage
Sludge As An Ingredient In Fertilizers And Soil
Substitutes. Inżynieria Ekologiczna,(48), 52-60.
doi:10.12912/23920629/63289
Kaiser, Cheryl and Ernst, Matt. “Hydroponic Lettuce.”
Center for Crop Diversification Crop Profile CCD-CP-63, pp. 1-
2,
https://www.plantgrower.org/uploads/6/5/5/4/65545169/hydrolet
tuce.pdf. Accessed 12 Aug. 2019.
Mantovani, Arthur da Costa Oliveira, Marques, Bortolotti da
Silva, & Corrêa Landgraf. (n.d.). Phosphorus levels in soil and
lettuce production due to phosphorus fertilization. Retrieved
from
http://www.uel.br/revistas/uel/index.php/semagrarias/article/vie
w/14732

Pardo, G. “Effects of Light Emitting Diode High Intensity on
Growth of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) and Broccoli (Brassica
Oleracea L.) Seedlings.” Annual Research & Review in
Biology, vol. 4, no. 19, 2014, pp. 2983–2994.,
doi:10.9734/arrb/2014/10526.
Runkle. (n.d.). Investment Considerations for Greenhouse
Lighting. Retrieved from
http://www.flor.hrt.msu.edu/assets/Uploads/Investment-
considerations.pdf
Schulze, P. (2014). Https://www.heliospectra.com/articles/the-
benefits-of-led-lighting-in-greenhouse-cannabis-
cultivation/. Research Gate. Retrieved from
doi:10.3182/20110828-6-it-1002.02683
Secretary, A. S. B. (2009). Quick Stats Agricultural Database.
Shaw, Justin. “LED Colour Temperature and Its Effect on the
Growth of Hydroponic Lettuce Seedlings.” The Young
Researcher, vol. 2, no. 1, 2018,
www.theyoungresearcher.com/papers/shaw.pdf.
Shimizu, Hiroshi, et al. “Light Environment Optimization for

Lettuce Growth in Plant Factory.” IFAC Proceedings Volumes,
vol. 44, no. 1, 2 Sept. 2011, pp. 605–609.,
doi:10.3182/20110828-6-it-1002.02683.
Suppressing soil-borne diseases with residue management ...
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/George_Lazarovits3/public
ation/241386869_Suppressing_soil-
borne_diseases_with_residue_management_and_organic_amend
ments/links/5a74947baca2720bc0de2266/Suppressing-soil-
borne-diseases-with-residue-management-and-organic-
amendments.pdf
The Benefits Of LED Lighting in Greenhouse Cannabis
Cultivation. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.heliospectra.com/articles/the-benefits-of-led-
lighting-in-greenhouse-cannabis-cultivation/
Thompson, H., & Langhans, R. (1996). Air and Water
Temperature Effects on Growth of Lettuce in a Hydroponic
System. HortScience,31(4). doi:10.21273/hortsci.31.4.586b
Thompson, H. C., Langhans, R. W., Both, A., & Albright, L. D.

(1998). Shoot and Root Temperature Effects on Lettuce Growth
in a Floating Hydroponic System. Journal of the American
Society for Horticultural Science,123(3), 361-364.
doi:10.21273/jashs.123.3.361
What is the Nutrient Film Technique - NFT? How does it work?
(n.d.). Retrieved August 02, 2019, from
https://www.greenandvibrant.com/nutrient-film-technique
THANK YOU
Anna Steele
I selected the presentation on greenhouse production of lettuce
from the Hawaii group. I learned a lot from the whole
presentation, but was most impressed by the explanation of
hydroponic and aquaponic systems. The diagram of the
"hydroponic nutrient film technique" was so straightforward and
well placed! I also learned about the various types of fungi and
pests that can thrive in a greenhouse environment if there is too
much water. I loved how detailed the lighting section was, and
how it tied directly into the other concepts introduced- for

example, the "seed germination" slide talked about low
radiation lighting/high humidity for the best germination.
I am interested, what percentage of lettuce is produced using
hydroponic/aquaponic systems? Is there any difference in price
or quality that would make the harvest more/less appealing to
consumers?
Post your reply here
Beth Silver
I chose the aquaponics systems for the production of tomatoes.
Boy, what a lot of information. You guys did a great job. I don’t
know much about aquaponics but I learned a lot from your
powerpoint. I bet you guys learned a lot too. I particularly like
the part on “is aquaponics sustainable”. The psychotherapy
rehab that you mentioned made me happy. I feel like thats not
touched on enough in my horticulture degree. I really sprung
from a horticultural therapy kind of dream and I personally,
can't begin to tell you how much my plants have offered me
peace, even if just for moments. It’s meditative for me, and hey,
flowers and food right.
Did you read a lot of information on this or did you just kind of
come across it? Did you read anything on what the effects of the
aquaponics system is actually offering, like ambiance of water
noise, having “pets” so to speak, flowers and food benefits and

just having a hobby and feeling fulfilled in taking care of
something?
Post your reply here
Growing Peppermint in the Pacific Northwest
By:
Saipan Group - Tyler Bates, Alex Kenfield, Michele Moore,
Anna Steele
1
Introduction
Group: Michele, Anna, Tyler, Alex
Peppermint- highly pertinent to PNW region
Oregon contributes 35% of nation’s total 1
Hardy plant
Cover crop; generally left for 3-5 years and replaced with

another crop
Used to manufacture peppermint oil but can stay in some place
for up to 10 years 2
What do toothpaste, mojito and altoids have in common,
Peppermint oil. Hi there, This is Tyler Bales with the group
Saipan, along with me are Michele Moore, Anna Steele and
Alex Kenfield
Overall peppermint is very pertinent to the PNW. Oregon Alone
35% of the Nations total peppermint. Peppermint is overall a
very hardy plant often used as a cover crop. Peppermint
generally last for 3-5 years but not uncommon to last 5-10 such
as on Teeter Farms in Imbler, Oregon.
Peppermint can be grown for a few purposes, the two biggest
reasons are for food purposes as either oils or garnishes. Our
group focused on Peppermint for oil because the oil portion is
used the most.
1 “Peppermint.” Peppermint | Central Oregon Agriculture
Research and Extension Center,

oregonstate.edu/dept/coarc/peppermint-0.
2 Bales, Tyler, and William B Teeter. “Peppermint in the
Grande Rond Valley.” 17 July 2019.
Images found at http://biotexls.com/portfolio_item/peppermint/,
http://gettyimages.com, snf
https://www.amazon.com/ALTOIDS-Curiously-Mints-
Peppermint-Mints-Freshen-Breath-12-1-76oz-Pocket-
Sized/dp/B000FKQD5G
Tyler Bales
2
Importance of Peppermint to PNW Economy
Pacific Northwest farms produce
approximately 90% of the nation’s peppermint
Harvested for oil, rootstock, and dried leaves
PNW largest peppermint-producing area in
North America since 1950

Hello – my name is Michele Moore and I am going to cover why
peppermint is such an important crop for the Pacific Northwest,
the main uses of peppermint, and the best soil conditions for
growing peppermint.
Peppermint is a very important crop for supporting the Pacific
Northwest’s economy.
The Pacific Northwest produces approximately 90% of the
nation’s peppermint for oil, rootstock, and dried leaves and has
been the largest peppermint-producing area in North America
since 1950 (Hart et al. 1).
Citation for image:
Foster, Steven. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health National Center for
Complementary and Integrative Health. Peppermint Oil (image)
September 2016 D365
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/peppermintoil
(Accessed 27 July 2019).
Michele Moore

3
Oregon Peppermint Statistics
Oregon is the number one producer of peppermint in the U.S.
Primary production areas in Oregon are the Willamette Valley
as well as some areas east of the Cascades.
According to the U.S.D.A., Oregon had:
19,000 acres of peppermint harvested in 2018
Total value of peppermint oil production of $34,077,000
Yield of peppermint oil per acre was 85 lbs./acre,
Oregon is the number one producer of peppermint in the United
States (NASS). Primary production areas in Oregon are the

Willamette Valley as well as some areas east of the Cascades.
Oregon had 19,000 acres of peppermint harvested in 2018 for a
total value of peppermint oil production of $34,077,000
according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Yield of
peppermint oil per acre was 85 lbs./acre, 1,615,000 lbs. of oil
was produced, and price per unit was $21.10/lb (NASS).
Image Citation:
Dr. Axe Food is Medicine Essential Oils. Top 15 Peppermint
Oil Uses and Benefits for Gut Health, Headaches and More.
(image) August 2019.
https://draxe.com/essential-oils/peppermint-oil-uses-benefits/
(Accessed 4 August 2019).
Michele Moore
4

Washington State Peppermint Statistics
Most of Washington State's mint farms are located in Adams,
Grant, and Yakima counties.
As of 2017, Washington produced 1,440,000 pounds of
peppermint oil, making it the nation's third-highest peppermint-
oil producer.
According to the U.S.D.A., Washington State had:
11,000 acres of peppermint harvested in 2018
Total value of peppermint oil production of $25,608,000.
Yield of peppermint per acre was 120 lbs./acre,
Most of Washington State's mint farms are located in Adams,
Grant, and Yakima counties. As of 2017, Washington produced
1,440,000 pounds of peppermint oil, making it the nation's
third-highest peppermint-oil producer (NASS).
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington
State had 11,000 acres of peppermint harvested in 2018 for a
total value of peppermint oil production of $25,608,000. Yield
of peppermint per acre was 120 lbs./acre, 1,320,000 lbs. of oil
was produced, and price per unit was $19.40/lb (NASS).

Image Citation:
Historylink.org Johnson Agriprises Othello; Large Organic
Peppermint and Weeding Crew (image) June 2007
https://historylink.org/Content/Media/Photos/Large/organic-
peppermint-and-weeding-crew-johnson-agriprises-othello-june-
2007.jpg
Michele Moore
5
Main Uses of Peppermint
Peppermint leaf is available in teas, capsules, and as a liquid
extract
Primary uses:

as a culinary herb and for tea
as a dietary supplement for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),
other digestive problems, the common cold, headaches, and
other conditions.
Peppermint leaf is available in teas, capsules, and as a liquid
extract and is used:
-as a culinary herb and for tea
-as a dietary supplement for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),
other digestive problems, the common cold, headaches, and
other conditions (Hart et al. 1).
Image Citation:
Seely, Mike. Seely Mint Peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.),
Fargher Lake (image), June 19, 2018.
https://historylink.org/File/20562

Michele Moore
6
Main Uses of Peppermint
Peppermint oil is available as liquid solutions and in capsules,
and is used:
-to create a pleasant fragrance in soaps and cosmetics
-to flavor chewing gum, candy, and aromatherapy products
-to flavor mouthwashes and toothpastes
-topically (applied to the skin) for headache, muscle aches, and
itching (Hart et all, 1).
Michele Moore
7
Peppermint oil is available as liquid solutions and in capsules

Primary uses:
to create a pleasant fragrance in soaps and cosmetics
to flavor chewing gum, candy, and aromatherapy products
to flavor mouthwashes and toothpastes
topically (applied to the skin) for headache, muscle aches, and
itching
History Of Peppermint
Originates from Mediterranean (Europe) 1
Introduced to USA by English settlers
Cultivation began in Massachusetts

Now mostly on West Coast (PNW)
also cultivated in significant numbers in the Midwest
Peppermint originated in the Mediterranean predominantly on
the European side. It like many different crops found its way to
the United State by means of English Settlers and cultivation
started in Massachusetts. As the years have gone by and
cultivars have expanded we are now seeing Peppermint mostly
being grown on the West Coast more specifically the Pacific
Northwest, but some are grown in the Midwest still as well.
1“Peppermint History.” InDepthInfo on Peppermint,
peppermint.indepthinfo.com/history-of-peppermint.
Image from http://www.geographicguide.com/europe-
maps/mediterranean.htm
Tyler Bales
8
Cultivation History in Eastern Oregon
Peppermint hit the Grande Ronde Valley about 1930
Didn’t take off until 1980s
Started off of Madras Cultivars

Started by Tri-Co Farms in 1980
Demand took off in until the late 1980s
Peppermint is now grown in over 10 Farms and stilled through 5
mint stills.
My family owns a local farm in Eastern Oregon called Teeter
Farms where we harvest peppermint oil. In an attempt to find
the history of peppermint cultivation in Eastern Oregon (more
specifically the Grande Ronde Valley), I went straight to the
source. In an interview with my Grandfather Bill Teeter I asked
him to tell me all about peppermint in Eastern Oregon. He told
me that peppermint hit in the Grande Ronde Valley in about
1930. Peppermint cultivation did not take off until the 1980s.
The 1980 varieties were stared off of Madras Cultivars and
adapted for the more mild weather in the Grande Ronde Valley.
Farmers didn’t really begin to buy in until the 1980s after Tri-
Co farms began growing and stilling their own oil. After that
the demand for peppermint to be grown in Eastern Oregon
began to take off shortly after in the late 1980s and has been
grown in Eastern Oregon ever since. There are now more than
10 farms that grow peppermint and 5 mint stills in the Grande

Aquaponics Systems for the Production of TomatoesGroup Ka.docx

Aquaponics Systems for the Production of TomatoesGroup Ka.docx

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Aquaponics Systems for the Production of TomatoesGroup Ka.docx

Similar to Aquaponics Systems for the Production of TomatoesGroup Ka.docx (20)

More from festockton

More from festockton (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Aquaponics Systems for the Production of TomatoesGroup Ka.docx