Search results for "aquaponics"
showing 6 items of 6 documents
A financial feasibility study of an aquaponic system in a Mediterranean urban context
2019
Abstract Aquaponics is largely recognized as a solution for sustainable food production as it follows a biomimetic natural system and the circular economy principles, allowing large food productivity on nonagricultural land, and at the same time strongly reducing inputs and waste. In this study, we collected technical, economic and production data from a pilot aquaponic plant producing lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) realized in an urban context in Sicily (Southern Italy), very suitable area for aquaponic production in relation to the Mediterranean climate. Through the determination of Net return and Break Even Point, analysing on one side the items which c…
Forecasting Aquaponic Systems Behaviour With Recurrent Neural Networks Models
2022
Aquaponic systems provide a reliable solution to grow vegetables while cultivating fish (or other aquatic organisms) in a controlled environment. The main advantage of these systems compared with traditional soil-based agriculture and aquaculture installations is the ability to produce fish and vegetables with low water consumption. Aquaponics requires a robust control system capable of optimizing fish and plant growth while ensuring a safe operation. To support the control system, this work explores the design process of Deep Learning models based on Recurrent Neural Networks to forecast one hour of pH values in small-scale industrial Aquaponics. This implementation guides us through the m…
Hydroponic Lettuce Cultivation Using Organic Nutrient Solution from Aerobic Digested Aquacultural Sludge
2021
The aim of this study was to demonstrate how aquacultural sludge can be processed and utilized as an organic nutrient solution (ONS) for hydroponic lettuce production. By using a previous developed method, approximately 80% of the processed sludge was reclaimed as a clear, nutrient-rich solution. The performance of the recovered nutrient solution on lettuce growth was assessed in a nutrient film hydroponic system. The results were compared to the results obtained using a conventional nutrient solution (CNS). Yield, fresh weight, water consumption, and nutrient and heavy metal content in leaf tissue were measured. In spite of a 16% lower average fresh weight obtained in ONS compared to the w…
The effect of plants on microbes, water quality, and fish performance in an aquaponic system
2023
Aquaponics is a way to utilize the nutrient-rich effluents from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) by combining hydroponics, i.e. soilless plant farming, with RAS. The plants in aquaponics can be grown as a single or mixed plant species together with fish. In this dissertation, I investigated if plant growth is affected in aquaponics compared to hydroponics and if the plants affected the growth and microbial communities in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) or water quality in aquaponics compared to RAS. The first experiment was conducted by pairing lettuce (Lactuca sativa) with mint (Mentha spicata), rucola (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), or wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and growing them …
Fish Diets in Aquaponics
2019
AbstractFish and feed waste provide most of the nutrients required by the plants in aquaponics if the optimum ratio between daily fish feed inputs and the plant growing area is sustained. Thus, the fish feed needs to fulfil both the fish’s and plant’s nutritional requirements in an aquaponic system. A controlled fish waste production strategy where the nitrogen, phosphorus and mineral contents of fish diets are manipulated and used provides a way of influencing the rates of accumulation of nutrients, thereby reducing the need for the additional supplementation of nutrients. To optimize the performance and cost-effectiveness of aquaponic production, fish diets and feeding schedules should be…
Fish Welfare in Aquaponic Systems: Its Relation to Water Quality with an Emphasis on Feed and Faeces—A Review
2017
Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (fish) and hydroponic cultivation of plants. This review examines fish welfare in relation to rearing water quality, fish feed and fish waste and faeces to develop a sustainable aquaponic system where the co-cultured organisms, fish, bacteria in biofilters and plants, should be considered holistically in all aquaponics operations. Water quality parameters are the primary environmental consideration for optimizing aquaponic production and for directly impacting fish welfare/health issues and plant needs. In aquaponic systems, the uptake of nutrients should be maximised for the healthy production of the plant biomass but without neglecting the best…