Aquaponics and hydroponics agriculture.pdf

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Aquaponics, a fusion of "aqua" from aquaculture
and "ponics" from hydroponics, integrates fish
and plant production.
It combines recirculating aquaculture and
hydroponics, addressing environmental impacts
from intensive fish farming and crop production.
Aquaponics comprises two interconnected
subsystems: aquaculture (fish cultivation) and
hydroponics (plant cultivation without soil).
The closed-loop system allows efficient use of
water, enabling the production of both fish and
vegetables simultaneously.
Aquaponics

Plant Selection and Adaptability & Operational
Dynamics
• Green leafy vegetables with low to medium nutrient requirements are well-suited
for aquaponics, including capsicum, tomatoes, lettuce, basil, and watercress.
• Plant selection depends on fish maturity and stocking density, creating a
dynamic relationship within the system.
• The Recirculation Culture System involves feeding fish with quality floating
pellet feed.
• Fish waste, rich in nutrients, is pumped into bio-filter troughs containing
horticulture plants, establishing a symbiotic relationship.
• Water flow rate, controlled by a timer, ensures the organic and
environmentally friendly nature of the production system.

Economic Considerations
• Despite a higher initial investment,
aquaponics promises lower recurring costs
and reasonable returns.
• Advantages include reduced water usage,
minimal land requirements, waste
recycling, and decreased labor inputs.
• Plants and fish in the aquaponic system
maintain a symbiotic balance.
• Fish excreta provide essential nutrients
for plant growth, while plants naturally
filter and purify the water, fostering a
harmonious ecosystem.

• Aquaponics mirrors natural closed-loop
systems found in river or lake basins, where
fish and plants coexist.
• Nitrifying bacteria in the biofilter convert fish
waste into nutrients for plants, closing the loop
of water circulation within the system.
• Managing water quality is critical, with pH
levels ideally maintained between 6.0-8.5.
• Consideration of the specific pH requirements
for plants (6-6.5) and fish (7-9) ensures
stability in the aquaponics system.
Principle of Aquaponics

Types of Aquaponics Systems:
• Aquaponic systems are categorized as coupled (CAS) or decoupled (DAS).
• CAS maintains a single continuous loop, while DAS utilizes subsystem
traps for multi-directional water flow.
• DAS offers advantages in water quality and plant variety but may entail
higher initial construction costs and space requirements.
• Initial costs and space constraints present challenges in aquaponics system
implementation.
• Novel design ideas, such as reversible osmosis filters and advanced filtering
methods, are emerging to address these challenges.

Aquaponics Modern Classifications:
Hydroponic Forms
1. Media-Based Growing Bed (MBGB)
Design Characteristics:
• Popular for small-scale aquaponics, especially suitable for beginners.
• Space-saving, relatively low-cost, and simple in design.
Functionality:
• Utilizes a growing media in the beds to support plant roots and for
filtration.
Considerations:
• Cost-effective but challenging to maintain and clean.

2. Deep Water Culture (DWC):
• Simplest system for large-scale commercial aquaponics.
• Primarily used for growing lettuce, basil, and other leafy plants.
Functionality:
• Involves Styrofoam sheets floating over grow beds with supplied air.
• Easier to clean with a higher nitrate removal rate.
Requirements:
• Requires additional biofilters, aeration devices, and a larger water
volume.

3. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
• Shows potential for custom aquaponics designs.
• Higher efficiency in water use but with lower yield and higher costs.
Functionality:
• Utilizes plastic pipes laid horizontally for growing vegetables.
• Water lifted from the biofilter into each hydroponic pipe, creating a shallow stream
of nutrient-rich water.
Implementation:
• Pipes contain holes along the top where plants are placed for growth.
• Considerations:
• Efficient water use but involves higher expenses.

Integrated Fish Farming

Integrated Fish Farming
1.Definition and Core Concept:
1. Integrated fish farming involves combining fish production with other agricultural/livestock
operations around a fish pond.
2. The key concept is the interlinking of farming sub-systems (fish, crops, livestock) to maximize
land and water resource utilization.
2.Interactions and Resource Cycling:
1. Byproducts and wastes from one sub-system serve as valuable inputs for another, promoting a
closed-loop system.
2. Livestock excreta and waste feed become manure and feed for fish, while crop byproducts
serve as feed for livestock and manure for fish ponds.
3.Total Resource Utilization:
1. The integrated system ensures the total utilization of land and water resources on the farm.
2. Excreta from livestock, waste feed, and byproducts from crops are efficiently repurposed within
the system, minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency.

Fish cum Poultry System

Rice cum Fish Culture

SOURCE: Handbook of Fisheries and Aquaculture, ICAR, New Delhi, (2006).

Diversified Farm Output:
• The synergy between fish, crops, and livestock results in diversified farm outputs.
• The system yields fish, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, fuel wood, and fodder, meeting
various needs of a farm family.
Minimized Financial and Labor Costs:
• Integration leads to efficient resource use, reducing the need for external inputs and
minimizing financial costs.
• Labor costs are optimized as tasks in different sub-systems complement each other,
enhancing overall farm productivity.
Inter-Sub-System Interactions:
• Livestock excreta and waste feed benefit fish production and serve as crop land manure.
• Crop byproducts act as feed for both fish and livestock, creating a symbiotic
relationship.
• Nutrient-rich pond silt and water serve as fertilizers for crop lands, enhancing soil
fertility.

Sustainable Farming Practices:
1. Integrated fish farming aligns with sustainable agriculture practices by promoting efficient resource
utilization and minimizing waste.
2. The closed-loop system reduces the environmental impact and promotes a holistic and balanced
ecosystem.
Basic Needs Fulfillment:
✓The integrated system fulfills essential needs of a farm family, ranging from protein sources (fish
and meat) to vegetables, fruits, and other farm products.
Maximized Output with Limited Area:
✓The system showcases how diverse outputs can be achieved within a limited area by harnessing
synergies between fish, crops, and livestock.
Promoting Rural Livelihoods:
1. Integrated fish farming contributes to rural livelihoods by providing a sustainable and diversified
income source.
2. It empowers farm families with a holistic approach to agriculture, ensuring food security and
economic stability.

Thankyou

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