Neil Bastendorff Josiah Quijano Brandyn Olinger Cody Hubbard

Transcription

1 Aquaponics Neil Bastendorff Josiah Quijano Brandyn Olinger Cody Hubbard

2 Introduction Methods and Concepts of Aquaponics Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture in order to create a system in which two species, most commonly a plant and a fish, can live and grow symbiotically. Unlike conventional farming with soil and water, aquaponics is a relatively new method of raising both plants and animals. One of the key aspects of aquaponics is the nitrogen cycle which replaces the need for nutrients that soil would otherwise supply. Keep in mind that aquaponics entail a soilless environment. For these reasons it is said to be the farming of the future. With all that said, each method of raising crops and animals have their benefits and disadvantages. For example, one of the many features that aquaponics so effective is the fact that they require such a minute portion of the resources required for traditional farming. Some very important resources that tend to be in relatively short supply include time, money, land and water. Some systems of aquaponics may require as little as two percent of the water that is needed for traditional farming. And, with plants able to take in the nutrients they need via the nitrogen cycle, crops can also be grown in a fraction of the time. Procedure A two inch hole was drilled in the bottom corner of a 48 quart cooler. This became the fish tank. A ¾ inch hole was drilled in the opposite corner. A small, rectangular clear plastic container measuring 12 inches by 6 inches by 6 inches was secured to the top of the cooler above the water pump using plastic wire ties. The pump operated by the power of a regular car battery. This became the grow bed for the plants. A drip system was mounted from the smaller of the two holes in the fish tank up to the grow bed. The fish tank was filled with approximately 24 quarts

3 of hose water and the pump was plugged in and turned on. Tilapia and romaine lettuce were the two species utilized in this experiment. Results Control D A Y 1 D A Y 2 D A Y 3 # Plant Height Leaf Length Leaf Width Root Length Numbe r of Leaves D A Y 4 D A Y 5 D A Y 6 # Plant Height Leaf Length Leaf Width Root Length Numbe r of Leaves X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 3 3 X X 3 4

4 X = plant that died Diagram of Aquaponic Plant Location Discussion Something that necessitates improvement is the fact that half of the plants died in both systems of growing crops. I has been thought that a cause of this might be that the weak plants experienced an overdose of water, being doused by the drip sprinkler system. A suggestion for this might be to use a variety of plants and fish that are stronger and more healthy than that of a romaine lettuce or tilapia. Or simply find an alternate method of getting the plants the water and nutrients they require. An effective tool that might have been extremely helpful would be an automatic water timer to dispense the amount of water needed at the time needed. Also the system encountered an amount of water loss throughout the experiment, which could have been prevented, possibly even by a water timer. It should also be noted that the clarity and cleanliness of the water in the

5 system changed for the worse throughout the six days. It is unclear whether or not the fish were affected positively or negatively by this, if they were affected at all. Conclusion In both the aquaponics and conventional soil and water method of plant growth, exactly half of the plants wound up dead. This is not acceptable considering that is how some people live and sustain themselves is through farming. On the other hand, one positive that came was none of the fish died throughout the entirety of experiment. Works Cited aquaponics/ plants and fish in aquaponics

6 Neil Bastendorff Cody Hubbard Josiah Quijano Brandyn Olinger Aquaponics: Concepts and Methods Introduction Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (fish farming), and hydroponics (growing plants without soil) to create a symbiotic environment in which organisms can grow. Not only is an aquaponics system a superb way to grow plants, but it is also a phenomenal way to raise fish. History Plants have been grown in soil and water for centuries. While the practices of fish farming and soilless plant culture have been traced back centuries to ancient times, the combination of the two is rather new. The idea of using fish waste products to directly fertilize plants is thought to have began as early as the 15th century, when the Aztecs created crude islands made from reeds that were relatively stationary and used nutrient rich mud and water from canals to produce corn. Floating systems were installed on fish ponds in more modern days in China for growing rice. More modern aquaponics as we have come to know them today are thanks to those who founded the New Alchemy Institute and professors at the University of North Carolina who set out to and achieved the world's first closed loop system. Organisms Grown in Aquaponics Systems

7 Presently, crops produced in aquaponics systems vary greatly; from lettuce and watercress to tomatoes, even to cannabis. Fish commonly grown in aquaponics systems include tilapia, trout, and fancy goldfish. Tilapia are especially useful due to the fact that they yield high amounts of protein when ready to be harvested, capable of producing up to one pound of fish per gallon of water in a tank. No weeds or unwanted crops are grown in aquaponics systems. This will eliminate the needs for harmful pesticides and gmos for better efficient farming Nutrient Cycles In order to fully understand aquaponics, one must first understand the nitrogen cycle and how it applies to aquaponics. Nitrogen is a fundamental element that is necessary for all life forms on Earth and is especially important in an aquaponics system due to the lack of soil and the nutrients it entails.. It begins when the fish produce waste from the food they eat. It is then decomposed by bacteria, microbes and fungi into ammonia. The ammonia are converted into nitrites, and later into nitrates which are absorbed by the plants rather easily, thereby filtering the water for it to be recirculated to the fish. Necessity for Aquaponics Aquaponics is said to be the farming of the future. It is a dynamic way to produce large amounts of organic vegetables, using no chemicals or fertilizers. It is quite possibly the freshest, greenest and most efficient way to grow, requiring only two percent of the water needed to farm plants with the traditional dirt method. They are capable of being powered solely by renewable sources of energy too. One can build a small aquaponics system suitable for their family, or scale it up to produce commercially. Regardless of whether you are growing for one or for one thousand, aquaponics make it easier to grow more food in less space, do not require rich fertile

8 soil or other natural resources that are in high demand and low availability, and are capable of producing year round. Trends for Future Use In the future, aquaponics will become more and more of a necessity as space for farms and fertile soil become less and less available. Once people around the world come to this realization, they will not be so reluctant to begin growing their own products more efficiently, utilizing systems of aquaponics. Something that is appealing to the aesthetics of aquaponics is the fact that one can create a sustainable system by which to produce crops and fish for consumption. Applications for Aquaponics Aquaponics has the potential to increase farm income through diversification as well as help aquaculture producers manage fish effluent. Aquaponics also has a greener future for the world and better plant life when it comes down to using aquaponics. Works Cited plants and fish in aquaponics aquaponics/

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