Aquaponics for tropics with Brackish water species, a Bangladeshi experience relevant to India and other countries in the region

Transcription

1 Aquaponics for tropics with Brackish water species, a Bangladeshi experience relevant to India and other countries in the region Prof. Dr. M. A. Salam Department of Aquaculture Faculty of Fisheries, BAU, Mymensingh masalambau@gmail.com BRAQCON-2019 World Brackishwater Aquaculture Conference January 2019 Chennai, India

2 Theme of my presentation Environmental Problems Aquaponic systems in various places Objectives Methodology: How Aquaponics works? Some Results in coastal and freshwater areas Saline water research in aquaponics Sustainability and maximize positive impact Fish & Vegetable Production in Aquaponics System Why plants prefer aquaponics Drawbacks of Aquaponic Summary

3 World food supply will be interrupted Bangladesh having huge population pressure, soil degradation, water scarcity and handling pollution is the challenges but safe food production is the highest concern 70% people will live in Food Desert Cities in 2050 (Dhaka, New York, Beijing, Toronto, Tokyo, Delhi etc.) Moreover, climate induced factors will make the food production difficult in coming days 0.74% of our arable land goes to other uses, whereas 1.59% population increases every year Farmers use huge chemical fertilizers, pesticides and antibiotics to enhance food production and tackle pests and diseases

4 Aquaponics can address food crisis Pesticide residues associated with lower sperm quality and chronic diseases like cancer, liver and kidney failure The food needs to grow within the communities as transported food losses its vitality and enhances CC impact Hence, we need to look for a climate smart technology which can handle these problems efficiently and keeping environment in sustainable and eco-friendly

5 Water scarcity in some parts of the world On Earth 1/3 of land surface is Water The oceans seem unbounded, but how much fresh water is there?

6 Can aquatic creatures survive? Water polluted by leather processing industry Poisonous chemicals release in the river

7 Is it water or poison All Dhaka Rivers Left 'Dead'

8 Mass fish mortality occurs near Dhaka city Is this fish safe for consumption? A young boy is seen collecting dead fish after Dhaka Wasa killed in Bangladesh Environment is in fragile condition An Indonesian boy looks at dead fish in Lake Maninjau (Indonesian)

9 Issues in seafood production A new study highlighted that 2/3 of Ocean s fish stocks are declining Unsustainable fishing are responsible for declining fish stocks (Fisheries Recovery Campaign, Canada, 2016) It is unethical to growing fish feeding with fish (Fish meal) Development of marine aquaculture is the key to overcome, but what about wastewater? Is it a resource or pollution? Need to find new areas to produce food (islands, desert, coastal regions) Cage aquaculture is apparently an easy way out

10 Plants Grow Faster Offers A Source of Income No Soil Pests Why Aquaponics? Sustainable and environmental friendly Space Saving Healthy Eating

11 Water use to get 100 $ Output

12 UN introduce Aquaponics system in Gaza city UN has installed aquaponics in Gaza to culture fish and vegetable with the inhabitants who don't have any supply from out side due to Israel's blockage

13 Availability of vegetables in coastal areas Food is grown round the year With one input will get two outputs Why Coastal Farmers Adopt Aquaponics It produces organic food 6-10 times more production Climate resilient technology

14 Aquaponics NASA s future mars program One Step Closer to Mars with Aquaponics: Cultivating Citizen Science in K12 Schools in USA Food production is the key to long term space travel, aquaponics is one of the possible design solution To develop the most efficient and plant bearing system they depend on the Aquaponics

15 Aquaponics Project, a Pitt student group The Aquaponics Project, a University of Pitt student group focused on sustainable urban farming won a grand prize of $10,000 and a Ford Van at the 10th Annual Ford College Community Challenge Wins Big Money

16 School Farming - Aquaponics for Schools Aquaponics fish and vegetables make them Happy

17 Nutrients: Aquaponics VS hydroponic system Aquaponics has a much lower level of nutrients than a typical hydroponic system, yet produces the same amount of lettuce

18 Aquaponics is the most profitable indoor growing technique

19 Aquaponics Research Booming Ranka et al., 2017

20 Objectives Therefore, overall objective is to introduce, BAU Aquaponics to address water crisis and produce fish-vegetables through eco friendly farming at the backyard to address food adulteration, malnutrition and safe food production. The specific objectives are: Growing fish and vegetables from the backyard and rooftop without soil and fertilizers to reduce pressure on water and land resources Address food adulteration, nutritional deficiency and safe food production in the region To development marine aquaponics on land to avoid seawater pollution or health hazards to fish as well as human with coastal communities in Bangladesh, India and other Southeast Asian countries and To bring all the city dwellers in production activities who are otherwise only consumers

21 Methodology

22 Fish Tank

23 Fish growth in taro, tomato and spinach aquaponics system Parameters Taro Exp Tomato Exp Spinach Exp Water flow rate (L/min) Culture Duration (days) Initial stocking density(kg/m 3 ) 1.65±0.01 a 0.80±0.01 b 2.3±0.01 c Mean initial length (cm) 7.70±0.90 a 6.18±0.92 b 9.06±1.22 c Mean final length (cm) 16.76±0.80 a 16.60±1.18 a 18.92±1.37 b Mean length gain (cm) 9.06±0.66 a 10.42± ±2.03 a % length gain ±19.89 a ±35.98 b ±36.33 c Mean initial weight (g) 12.39±3.69 a 5.85±2.30 b 17.27±6.50 a Mean final weight (g) 96.09±13.86 a 92.11±18.60 a ±26.57 b Mean weight gain (g) 83.70±12.92 a ±17.40 a ±29.56 b % weight gain ± a ± b ± c Daily growth rate (%) 0.98 a o.76 b 0.74 b Survival (%) 90.20±14.67 a 89.80±0.92 b 91.90±1.91 b Production (kg/ha/105d) 129.0±0.02 a 130.0±0.02 b 133.0±0.06 b Cherry tomato Papaya Tomato Tilapia

24 So far I have tested fish & veg. in Aquaponics Fish I have tested Vegetable I have grown Tilapia Tomatoes Papaya Common carp Indian spinach Bitter gourd Walking catfish Aurum Corn Stinging catfish Ladies finger Water gourd Pangasius Pudina Lettuce Gold fish Red amaranth Teasel gourd Water spinach Kohlrabi Borboti Brinjal Cucumber Spinach Sponge gourd Snake gourd Strawberry

25 Aquaponics Performance (Carmelo et al., 2018) The main turnover comes from vegetables Media-based AP system performance was higher than the NFT and floating system as there is less space for bacteria to anchor Nearby market with high demand and good prices is the key to success in aquaponics Aquaponics producing low-priced fish or vegetables, seem to have grim future

26 Saline water aquaponics research Suitable Fish in Saline Aquaponics Some marine fishes can grow in low salinity (5-7 ppt) (European seabass) Asian seabass can grow with freshwater Seabream can grow at 10 ppt salinity Marine fish performing better in iso-osmotic saline water

27 Suitable Salt Water Organisms in Aquaponics Along with coastal fishes, prawn and shrimp can be included in Aquaponics Crab can be another suitable species in saline water Aquaponics

28 Cauliflower Experiment in Saline Water Significantly higher fish and cauliflower production obtained in 2 ppt salinity condition

29 Proximate composition of cauliflower

30 Project completed in brackish water region Out of 10, 7 families had excellent production of tilapia and range of vegetables of their choice with success rate of 80-90%.

31 Cherry tomato in saline water, Italy Increased Salinity in irrigation water enhances fruiting: shelf life (thicker skin) higher DM higher taste (sugar and acidity, Pantanella and Colla, 2017)

32 Use of Halophytes in aquaponics Halophytes use as Food Animal feed Oil/fuel Higher production in saline condition than freshwater Have market potentials (Pantanella and Colla, 2017)

33 Halophytes grain: Quinoa 2nd most used crop in Mesoamerica (after potato and before maize) Grain production up to 65% of plant weight 2x proteins than wheat 2.5 MT/ha Rich in Iron, Lysine, Magnesium (Pantanella and Colla, 2017)

34 High value Saffron grow well in Aquaponics

35 Out come of a small AP System: 3 to 4 veg crop/yr

36 Fish & Vegetable Production in Aquaponics System Method Aurum tons/ha/5 months Red amaranth Tons/ha/ month Tomato tons/ha Ladies finger Tons/ha Lettuce Tons/ha/4 months Aquaponics Tap water Soil Hydroponics Fish production tons /ha/ days One notable thing is that the vegetable grown in aquaponics system not only grows well but fruiting time is longer than the soil grown vegetable.

37 Is Aquaponics sustainable? Contd. Use a fraction of the water than the soil growing No need to purchase fertilizer, store and apply No soil-borne diseases, no tilling, no weeding Grow two food products from 1 input, protein and vegetable High fish stocking, high crop yield No waste residual, all waste is used by bacteria and plants No pesticides or herbicides, fish works as power house Grow your own food, indoor, outdoor, round the year Effective in draught, saline, flooded areas or in unfertile soil

38 Why Plants like Aquaponic System? Constant nutrients supply Warm water continuously bathing the roots Don t have to search water or food as in soil Less effort/energy to spread roots All energy use to grow UP but not DRAIN No competition with weeds for food Roots get enough O 2 round the clock Fruiting period is longer than soil

39 Handy Tips and Tricks in Aquaponics Always wash your gravel media before putting in the system otherwise you will get very cloudy/dirty water Test ph of the gravel media you want to use Use air pump to bubble out chlorine and chloramine from tap water Use worms (red wigglers) in the media bed to breakdown the solid and reduce anaerobic zones Never use cleaning products, pesticides, algaecides, fertilizers like substances in fish tanks or grow beds

40 More Handy Tips and Tricks in Aquaponics If you get aphides on your plants spray with diluted Vinegar and water solution Avoid direct sunlight on fish tanks, cover the top to avoid algae and make fish happy Never change more than 1/3 of water at a time that will destroy good bacteria Cover outdoor plants during scorching summer sun Make sure you have backup power available for pumps and aerators (optional)

41 Prof Dr Byrd Vernon and his team from Nations University, Hawaii

42 Drawbacks/challenges of AP System High initial costs Need constant electricity supply Skilled man power to operation and maintenance the system Various organizations failed in attempt to introduce aquaponics system Aquaponics System

43 Pro-Vice Chancellor of Texas A&M University

44 7 rules-of-thumb to follow in aquaponics According to FAO the following 7 things need to follow for successful aquaponic system run Choose the tank carefully. Ensure adequate aeration and water circulation. Maintain good water quality. Do not overcrowd the tanks. Avoid overfeeding, and remove any uneaten food. Choose and keep space between the plants. Maintain balance between plants and animals.

45 Closing Remarks Aquaponics works as an organic food source as well as learning tools The system will make you active and boost up with immense pleasure It will reduce water use dramatically as well as eliminate fertilizer and pesticide application If you can supplement fish with duck weed/azolla will reduce feed cost further and boost up production Therefore, each and every school and homestead should have a small AP unit of their own to keep our safe and sound

46 Received Bongobondhu National Agricultural Award (16 July 2017)

47 Thank you all for patience