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2/19/2018

Aquaponics Basics

Hye-Ji Kim Assistant Professor of Sustainable Horticulture Crop Production February 13, 2018

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“” The Future Farming System

Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system that combines with in a symbiotic environment. Aquaculture Hydroponics

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Aquaponics is a major form of “ (bioponics)”

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1 2/19/2018

Problems with Each System Aquaculture Hydroponics

+ Tilapia in an aquaculture tank

. Rearing‐tank has to be discharged . Commercial are expensive at 10‐20% of total volume per day. . Solution has to be replaced periodically . The discharged water becomes a . Disposal/runoff is problematic pollutant. . Nutrient concentration, pH, EC all have to be monitored, adjusted, controlled. . Recirculating systems prone to disease.

. Water quality management is a challenge. . feeds are not designed for plants. . Lack of scientific information Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

Source: Aquaponics: a brief history Source: http://m.zhongzi.net/en/news/1719.htm https://www.milkwood.net/2014/01/20/aquaponics‐a‐brief‐history/

Green Sky Growers, FL

UVI aquponic system Mari’s , HI

Urban Organics, MN Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Source: http://www.pentair.com

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① Fish are fed fish meal and produce ammonia rich waste. Too much ammonia is toxic for the ② fish, but they can withstand high levels of nitrates. Biofilter ② The nitrifying bacteria breaks ③ Grow bed down ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates. Plants take in the converted nitrate as nutrients. ④ ③ Plants take in the converted ① Fish tank nitrate as nutrients. Through this ⑤ Air pump action, the plants purify water for the fish. Water ④ Oxygen enters the system pump Sediment through an air pump. This oxygen tank is essential for plant growth and fish survival. Schematic diagram of an aquaponics system ⑤ Water moves around the system by the action of water pump.

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Aquaponics Basics

Types of Aquaponics Closed System: Recirculating or Coupled System Open System: Drain to Waste or Decoupled System

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Types of Aquaponics: Water vs. Substrate-base Water base: Substrate-base: Closed (Recirculating) System Open (Drain to Waste) System

Gravels, Coco Croutons

Deep water culture “Raft” system Clay‐balls

Lava‐rocks

Nutrient Film Techniques (NFT)

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Types of Hydroponics: Open vs. Closed Closed (Recirculating) system e.g. , NFT,

. Closed systems use 20–40% less water and than open systems . Consistent monitoring and maintenance of electrical conductivity (EC) and pH is required.

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4 2/19/2018

Aquaponics Basics

Types of Aquaponics Components of Aquaponics • Plants • Growing Media • Fish • Microbes

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Plants do well in aquaponics

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5 2/19/2018

Plants do well in aquaponics

Fruit vegetables

Leafy vegetables

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Plants for Aquaponics

Leafy Fruit vegetables Root vegetables Flowers vegetables Arugula Parsley Beans Beets Broccoli Basil Spinach Cucumbers Carrots Cauliflower Cabbage Swiss chard Eggplant Onions Chive Watercress Okra Radishes Edible flowers Kale Peas Ornamentals Leek Amaranth Peppers Lettuce Chia Strawberries Mint Microgreens Squash Mizuna Tomato Mustard greens Pak choi • Deep water system (DWS) • Substrate‐based system • NFT system • High‐nutrients‐requirements • Substrate‐based system Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

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Fish for Aquaponics Tilapia Trout Catfish Bass Goldfish Koi Pacu

Edible yes yes yes yes no no maybe Temperature (C) 16-35 2-20 2-32 4-32 2-32 2-32 16-35 Optimal 23-27 13-18 24-30 23-27 18-24 18-24 23-27 Temperature (C) Carnivorous or omnivorous carnivorous omnivorous carnivorous omnivorous omnivorous omnivorous omnivorous Mature size 1.5lb 0.8 lb 1.25 lb 1-3 lb 4” 20 lb 60 lb Duration to 9- 12 months 12-18 15-18 3 yrs 3 yrs 4 yrs reach maturity 12months months months

Oxygen low high low low low low low requirement

Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Adapted from Aquaponic Gardening (2011).

Types of Growing Media Substrate choice for hydroponic seedling production . Good physical contact with seeds

Source: http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/product/PP Substrate mixture Oasis Horticubes Peat pellets Substrates Synthetic media Organic Mineral (plugs, cubes, and blocks) components components Conventional peat moss • polymer bound plugs (e.g. peat hydroponics coco coir Vermiculite pellets, coir pellets, composted organic Clay pebbles material plugs, Oasis Horticubes, sawdust urethane foam plugs) rice hulls • Rockwool cubes & blocks

Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. • coco coir cubes and blocks

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Aquaponics Basics

Types of Aquaponics Components of Aquaponics Aquaponics Management • Water Quality • Nutrients • Other Considerations

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Aquaponics Management: Water Quality

. Water source . TAN (Total Ammonia Nitrogen) ‐ . Temperature . Nitrite (NO2 ) ‐ . pH . Nitrate (NO3 ) . DO (Dissolved oxygen)

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Aquaponics Management: Water Quality The pH

Plants Microbes

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Aquaponics Management: Water Quality Water Quality for Three Organisms The ideal compromise for aquaponics is necessary for the key water quality parameters. General Water Quality Parameters for Individual Organism Organism Type Temperature pH Ammonium Nitrite Nitrate DO (°C) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) Warm‐season 24‐30 Plants 5.5‐6.5 < 30 < 1 ‐ > 3 Cool‐season 10‐24

Warm‐water 22‐32 6‐8.5 < 3 < 1 < 400 4‐6 Fish Cold‐water 10‐18 6‐8.5 < 1 < 0.1 < 400 6‐8

Microbes 25‐30 7.3‐8.0 < 3 < 3 ‐ 4‐8 Ideal Water Quality Parameters for Aquaponics Aquaponics 20‐30 7 < 1 < 1 5‐150 > 5 Adapted from Small‐scale aquaponic food production. FAO (2014).

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9 2/19/2018

Aquaponics Management: Nutrient Management Nutrient management

~45 essential nutrients protein (amino acids), fats (fatty acids), minerals, and vitamins Fish feed ① Fish

‐ Nitrite (NO2 ) Macronutrients: N,P,K , Ca,S,Mg ‐ Micronutrients: NO3 B, Cl, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mo ③ Plant ② Microbes Energy source

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Aquaponics Management: Nutrient Management Nutrient management Are fish diets formulated to meet the nutrient requirements for all 3 taxa?

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Aquaponics Management: Nutrient Management Nutrient management Fish diets were not formulated to meet the nutrient requirements for all 3 taxa. Feeding rate ~45 essential nutrients Feeding frequency Feeding time protein (amino acids), fats (fatty acids), minerals, and vitamins Fish feed ① Fish

‐ Nitrite (NO2 )

NO ‐ Macronutrients: 3 Energy source N,P,K , Ca,S,Mg ③ Plant ② Microbes Micronutrients: B, Cl, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mo

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Water Chemistry in Aquaponics

Nitrification

Fish feed Fish Solid waste ① Nitrosomonas Organic N + • 55 5 2 76 2 →572 − + 54 52 2 109

‐ Nitrification NO2

‐ ② Nitrobacter NO3 − + • 400 5 24 195 2 − + Denitrification 2 2→572 4003 Plant Microbes Nutrient uptake N2, NO, or N2O + ‐ (NH4 , NO3 ) Nitrogen flow (blue arrows) and potential loss (red arrows) in an aquaponics system.

Photo: Stan Watson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institut, 2010e: Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Photo: W.J.Hickey, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2006

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Water quality parameters as affected by plant species

Parameter Tomato Basil Lettuce TAN* (mg/L) 3.5±0.4 3.4±0.4 3.4±0.4 ns Nitrite (mg/L) 3.8±1.5 3.8±1.5 2.5±0.9 ns Nitrate (mg/L) 60.5±4.6 108.0±7.6 161.6±13.2 *** Phosphate (mg/L) 22.6±0.6 23.3±1.0 21.8±0.5 ns DO (mg/L) 6.7±0.1 6.5±0.1 6.7±0.1 ns Temperature (°C) 26.3±0.2 25.9±0.2 26.1±0.2 ns pH 6.8±0.1 6.7±0.1 6.7±0.1 ns EC 523±18 832±43 912±52 *** *Total ammonia nitrogen

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8 2500

6 2000 1500 pH 4 1000

Aquaponics EC (µS/cm) 2 500 0 0 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84 8 Days after Ttransplant 2500 6 2000 1500 4 *The pH was adjusted with a mixture of pH 1000 KOH and Ca(OH)2 in both systems. 2 EC (µS/cm) Hydroponics Lettuce Basil Tomato 500 0 0 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84 Days after Transplant

Electrical conductivity (EC) dynamically changes in aquaponics.

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12 2/19/2018

Comparisons of aquaponics and hydroponics in yield and nutrient use Efficiency

Plant crop Production Yield (g FW) / 3 months N use efficiency system (%) Marketable Unmarketable Plant Plant Part Parts + fish Aquaponics 152 a 868 b 512 a 13.5 18.6 Tomato Hydroponics 115 a 1661 a 338 a 14 14.0

Aquaponics 233 b – 124 b 2.5 7.0 Basil Hydroponics 287 a – 170 a 4.3 4.3

Aquaponics 121 b – 24 b 1.3 5.8 Lettuce Hydroponics 197 a – 31 a 3.0 3.0

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Other Considerations • Aquaponics facility structure and layout • Lighting • Cooling and heating • Aquaponics pest control • Processing and marketing

Source: Ceres Solutions

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13 2/19/2018

Major Challenges of Aquaponics

• Knowledge of fish, bacteria, and plant production is essential to be successful. • Daily management (e.g. water quality management) is mandatory. • Aquaponics alone will not provide a complete diet (nutrient management). • Fish and plant requirements do not always match perfectly. • Reduced management choices compared with stand‐alone aquaculture or hydroponic systems. • Energy demanding: requires reliable access to electricity

• Expensive initial start‐up costs compared with soil or hydroponics vegetable production

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Economic Feasibility of Aquaponics

Case Study : Purdue University (Temperate climate)

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Case Study: Economic analysis results from Purdue University: “Commercial scale aquaponics is economically feasible, only if aquaponics produce are sold as organic produce from the third year of aquaponic business”

 Vegetable production is the major driving force of economic success.  Fish production of tilapia in aquaponics is currently not profitable.  High‐value fish should be introduced in aquaponics.

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Case Study 2: Economic Analysis of Aquaponics and Hydroponics Operation

Operating revenue and costs for aquaponics Operating revenue and costs for hydroponics

Flores, R.M.V., H.J. Kim, and K. Quagrainie. 2017. Economic analysis of Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. aquaponics production in the US Midwest. Journal of Applied Aquaculture.

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• Aquaponics has great potential to be a future farming system. • Aquaponics provides wellness tourism opportunity. • Aquaponics provides unique educational opportunity to nurture for future farmers. • Aquaponics can be profitable, if… • you are equipped with knowledge. • your vegetables are sold as organic produce. • you have local government support. • Challenges need to be addressed: • Scientific research is needed to be done for successful operation of aquaponics system with higher productivity and profitability. • Proper aquaponics design is necessary for optimal crop yield. • Suitable fish/plants/fish feed combinations for high profitability.

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Questions? Kim’s Lab Email at [email protected] Current Lab members Undergrad Researchers Teng Yang Jeffrey Bates Meng‐Yang Lin Brittany Weerts Seunghyun Choi Gaotian Zhu Yi‐Ju Wang Youssef Karam Sujoung Shim Brandon Horn Huijia Liu Hye Su Lee Zilong Ye Mitchell Ankney

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