Aquaponics Dr. Savidov2010

For Canadian Greenhouse ConferenceWednesday, October 6, 2010

Toronto

Nick Savidov Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

Crop Diversification Centre, Brooks, AB

So What is Aquaponics

Challenges in Agriculture

Limited resources Environmental impact and nutrient management High energy input Economic sustainability of greenhouse

operations Existing markets are near to saturation in

Europe and North America

How we can address those challengies? Is there “magic bullet”, which will make greenhouse industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly in 21st

century?

We need to continue looking for new ideas, “out-of-box” solutions. In future, we may need to completely change our agricultural paradigm, the way we produce food today.

Example: Integrated Production Systems, like aquaponics, can be one of the answers

The solution may already exist today, but we are not fully aware of it.

What is aquaponics?

Aquaculture + Hydroponics AquaponicsClean water

AerationCleaning Circuit

Solids RemovalNutrient Rich Water

=

What is wrong with this definition?

Fact 2: In integrated systems microflora is an inherent part of the system

Fact 1: In conventional hydroponics and aquaculture systems microorganisms are not desirable

The Basic Process:Fish provide source of nutrients, microorganisms convert organic waste and toxic compounds like ammonium into soluble nutrients available for plants, plants utilize soluble salts regenerating water for fish production

Technically, aquaponics is an example ofIntegrated Production System based on recirculating technology incorporating fish and plant production in one closed loop

Biologically, aquaponics is an example ofartificial ecosystem or agro-ecosystem designed for a purpose of food production

This approach is not new. Biocontrol in existing greenhouses mimics food chain relationships observed in nature

Integration of fish into the greenhouse production takes the concept to the next level creating fully sustainable artificial ecosystems

The concept is simple, but underlying mechanisms are very complex: involve interactions between the many components of the system

Objectives of the aquaponics project

Technical feasibility Food safety Test marketing Economic feasibility

Tilapia was selected in the present study as a fish component of the system

Nile tilapia

Red (hybrid) tilapia

Brooks Aquaponics Facility is based on the Model developed in University of Virgin Island

Plant growing troughs

FiltertanksClarifiersFish tanks

1.5” thick sheets ofpainted styrofoamcut to hold 2” or 4” pots

Building the plant troughs

Generation 4

Biofiltertanks

ClarifierFish tank

4’’

GeoTube Sump

Swirl Separators

P1

P2

Oxygenchamber

4’’

2’’

2’’

3’’

3’’

3’’

DrumFilter

3’’

CO2 degasingtank

LHO

OxygenGenerator

P3LHOpump

Plant growing bed

Parameters of the system Total volume – 73 m3

Plant area – 84 m2

Flow rate – 400 L min-1

Fish production capacity – 4.5 tons year-1

Basil crop production – 2.5 tons year-1

In total, over 60 different crops have been tested since 2002 including four main greenhouse vegetables, leafy vegetables, culinary herbs, flowers, medicinal herbs.

Tomatoes

Bitter melon

Ocimum basilicum

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Amaranth Basil Lemon

Chives Cilantro Purdue

Culantro Fenugreek Parsley Spinach Water cress

Basil Genovese

Basil Osmin

Choi

Coriander

Dill

Lettuce

Portulaca

Swiss Chard

Water spinach

Yiel

d, k

g m

-2ye

ar-1

Annual production of herbs in aquaponics

Strawberry experiment

00.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.61.8

2

April May June July

aquaponicshydroponics

Monthly production of strawberry, cv. Albion, grown on coconut coir using hydroponics and aquaponics solutions

Long English cucumber experiment

Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics in long English cucumber production, number per sq. m

0.05.0

10.015.020.025.030.035.040.045.050.0

Coir Sawdust Biochar

Substrate

Frui

t num

ber

per

sq. m

HydroponicsAquaponics

Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics: Feed Solution Analysis

Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics: Cucumber Fruit Analysis

Height (cm)

Shoot (g)

Root (g)

Height (cm)

Shoot (g)

Root (g)

Basil 30 226 68 35 301 111Rosemary 31 141 119 35 226 290Cucumber 138 1180 219 156 1580 274Tomato 110 1616 198 114 1841 279

Hydroponic Aquaponic

Crop Plant

Effect of aquaponics water on plant growth: comparison of produced biomass in hydroponic and aquaponic nutrient solutions

AquaponicsHydroponics

Rosemary roots

This study indicates that there is a factor stimulating nutrient uptake and assimilation of nutrients by plants grown in aquaponic solutions where nutrients and many organic compounds are derived from fish feed.

Features of the system

The same water was recirculated in the system during eight years and only compensated for evapotranspiration

No sodium chloride or calcium build up during this period

pH had been stabilized No supplemental nutrients added No pesticides used No waste produced in the system at all

Conclusion Aquaponics approach provides a

sustainable organic solution for greenhouse crop production

Aquaponic modules at CDC Research Station, Alberta, Canada

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Canada Dr. Nick Savidov Dan Watson

University of Alberta, Canada Dr. Andrew Keddie Dr. Vipan Bansal Dr. Lisa Stein

Multidisciplinary Team

Massey University, New Zealand Dr. Mike Nichols