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Comparison of Three Approaches for Cultivating Lettuce, Mint and Mushroom Herb

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Comparison of Three Approaches for Cultivating Lettuce, Mint and Mushroom Herb agronomy Article Nutrient Management in Aquaponics: Comparison of Three Approaches for Cultivating Lettuce, Mint and Mushroom Herb Valentina Nozzi 1, Andreas Graber 2 ID , Zala Schmautz 2 ID , Alex Mathis 2 and Ranka Junge 2,* ID 1 Department of Life and Environmental Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; [email protected] 2 Institute for Natural Resource Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Grüental, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland; [email protected] (A.G.); [email protected] (Z.S.); [email protected] (A.M.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +41-589-345-922 Received: 10 February 2018; Accepted: 5 March 2018; Published: 7 March 2018 Abstract: Nutrients that are contained in aquaculture effluent may not supply sufficient levels of nutrients for proper plant development and growth in hydroponics; therefore, they need to be supplemented. To determine the required level of supplementation, three identical aquaponic systems (A, B, and C) and one hydroponic system (D) were stocked with lettuce, mint, and mushroom herbs. The aquaponic systems were stocked with Nile tilapia. System A only received nutrients derived from fish feed; system B received nutrients from fish feed as well as weekly supplements of micronutrients and Fe; system C received the same nutrients as B, with weekly supplements of the macronutrients, P and K; in system D, a hydroponic inorganic solution containing N, Ca, and the same nutrients as system C was added weekly. Lettuce achieved the highest yields in system C, mint in system B, and mushroom herb in systems A and B. The present study demonstrated that the nutritional requirements of the mint and mushroom herb make them suitable for aquaponic farming because they require low levels of supplement addition, and hence little management effort, resulting in minimal cost increases. While the addition of supplements accelerated the lettuce growth (Systems B, C), and even surpassed the growth in hydroponic (System C vs. D), the nutritional quality (polyphenols, nitrate content) was better without supplementation. Keywords: aquaponics; hydroponics; lettuce; nutrient; floating raft culture; tilapia; nitrogen; phosphate 1. Introduction Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and recirculating aquaculture in a single water cycle [1]. In aquaponic systems (AP), the nutrients that are needed for plant growth are entirely or partly supplied by fish waste; teleosts mostly excrete nitrogen (N) in the form of ammonia (NH4) through their gills [2,3], while their faeces contain organic N, phosphorus (P), and carbon (C) [4,5]. In contrast to AP, where most nutrients are organic in origin, conventional hydroponic cultivation techniques provide plants with inorganic nutrients [6]. Several authors have investigated the possibility of using organically bound nutrients [7–9], which need to be released by microorganisms before being assimilated by plants. This process is, however, slower than if inorganic nutrients are used [10]. It has been suggested that nutrients from aquaculture effluents may not supply sufficient levels of potassium (K), calcium (Ca) or iron (Fe) for proper plant development, therefore these need to be added as supplements to the system to ensure optimal plant performance [11–14]. However, adding these supplements requires closer management of the system and leads to greater costs [15–17]. Lettuce is commonly grown hydroponically in greenhouses. In these recirculating hydroponic systems, the disposal of large volumes of spent nutrient solutions, which still contain high concentrations of Agronomy 2018, 8, 27; doi:10.3390/agronomy8030027 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy Agronomy 2018, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 15 adding these supplements requires closer management of the system and leads to greater costs [15– 17]. Lettuce is commonly grown hydroponically in greenhouses. In these recirculating hydroponic systems, the disposal of large volumes of spent nutrient solutions, which still contain high Agronomyconcentrations2018, 8, 27 of eutrophying nutrients, poses a significant ecological risk [18,19], and has recently2 of 15 been prohibited by some countries (e.g., The Netherlands). eutrophyingIn AP, nutrients,the levels posesof nutrients a significant are often ecological lower risk than [18 those,19], and in conventional has recently been hydroponics prohibited [20 by]; somenevertheless countries, comparable (e.g., The Netherlands). levels of productivity have been reported. This poses the question whether “organically”In AP, the derived levels ofnutrients nutrients are are more often effective lower thanthan thosenutrients in conventional derived from hydroponics readily soluble [20]; nevertheless,mineral fertilizers comparable [20,21].levels In order of productivityto establish this, have it beenis important reported. to Thisknow poses the exact the question nutrient whetherdemand “organically”of the crops being derived cultivated nutrients, i.e. are, morewhether effective they thancan thrive nutrients on the derived water from composition readily soluble derived mineral from fertilizersaquaculture [20 ,directly21]. In order or whether to establish nutrient this, supplement it is importants are to needed know the. Understanding exact nutrient this demand would of also the cropsexpand being current cultivated, knowle i.e.,dge whether on nutrient they candynamics thrive onin AP the. water composition derived from aquaculture directlyThe or purpose whether of nutrient this study supplements was to investigate are needed. the influence Understanding of three this different would AP also nutrient expand regimes current knowledgeon crop productivity on nutrient and dynamics quality, in and AP. to compare them to cultivation in conventional hydroponic systemsThe. purposeAn additional of this goal study was was to toestablish investigate whether the influence maximizing of three manage differentment APeffort, nutrient in the regimes form of onadministering crop productivity large amounts and quality, of nutrient and tos, compare maximizes them the toproduction cultivation for in different conventional plants hydroponicspecies. systems. An additional goal was to establish whether maximizing management effort, in the form of 2. Results administering large amounts of nutrients, maximizes the production for different plants species. 2.2.1. Results Water Quality Water in the floating raft tables, and therefore the plant root zone, (Figure 1) was subjected to 2.1. Water Quality large daily temperature variations of up to 12 °C, due to the shallow water and the direct exposure to sunWaterlight in. No the differences floating raft were tables, measured and therefore in water the temperature plant root zone, betw (Figureeen the1) four was subjectedexperimental to largesystems, daily despite temperature A, B, and variations C receivi ofng up warme to 12 ◦rC, aquaculture due to the shalloweffluent. water and the direct exposure to sunlight.Nevertheless, No differences the w wereater quality measured was in always water compatible temperature with between fish health the four (Table experimental 1), and the systems, weekly despitefertilizer A, supplements B, and C receiving ensured warmer that target aquacultureed nutrient effluent. levels were achieved (Figure 2). Figure 1. Plant root zone temperature (°C) in aquaponic systems A (red), B (green), and C (blue), and Figure 1. Plant root zone temperature (◦C) in aquaponic systems A (red), B (green), and C (blue), and in in hydroponic system D (grey). hydroponic system D (grey). Nevertheless, the water quality was always compatible with fish health (Table1), and the weekly fertilizer supplements ensured that targeted nutrient levels were achieved (Figure2). Agronomy 2018, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 15 Agronomy 2018, 8, 27 3 of 15 Table 1. Recorded water quality and calculated average nutrient concentration in each system. Parameter n A B C D Table 1. Recorded water quality and calculated average nutrient concentration in each system. NH4-N (mg L−1) 3 0.15 0.15–1.05 0.11–0.15 0.03–0.06 NO2-N (mg L−1) 3 0.03 0.03–0.04 0.01–0.02 0.25–0.04 Parameter n ABCD pH 10 5.1–6.9 5.0–7.3 5.0–6.5 5.9–7.4 −1 NH4-N (mg L ) 3 0.15 0.15–1.05 0.11–0.15 0.03–0.06 O2 (mgL−1) 10 7.5–8.3 7.1–8.6 6.6–8.4 5.9–7.6 NO -N (mg L−1) 3 0.03 0.03–0.04 0.01–0.02 0.25–0.04 2 −1 ECpH (µS cm ) 1010 760 5.1–6.9–1042 550– 5.0–7.31099 1483– 5.0–6.51858 1234–1622 5.9–7.4 −1 TO in2 (mgL fish tank) (°C) 1010 25.8 7.5–8.3–29.8 24.8 7.1–8.6–28.4 25.5– 6.6–8.428.8 - 5.9–7.6 AverageEC ( µTS in cm root−1) zone (°C) 10>1000 760–104223.5 550–109923.9 23.2 1483–1858 22.9 1234–1622 ◦ T in fish3 tank ( C)−1 10 25.8–29.8 24.8–28.4 25.5–28.8 - NO -N (mg L ◦) 84 62 82 63 Average T in root zone− (1 C) >1000 23.5 23.9 23.2 22.9 PO4-P (mg− 1L ) 3.5 1.9 28 28 NO3-N (mg L ) 84 62 82 63 K (mg −L1−1) 48 35 146 123 PO4-P (mg L ) 3.5 1.9 28 28 K (mgFe (mg L−1 )L−1) 0.148 1.8 35 2.1 1462.3 123 FeCa (mg (mg L−1 )L−1) 0.190 74 1.8 74 2.1117 2.3 −1 CaMg (mg (mg L )L−1) 1590 1174 32 7435 117 Mg (mg L−1) 15 11 32 35 Figure 2. Cont. AgronomyAgronomy 20182018, 8,, 8x, FOR 27 PEER REVIEW 4 of4 of 15 15 Figure 2. Concentrations of NO3-N, PO4-P, Ca, Mg, Fe, K, and CaCO3 (water hardness) in systems A Figure 2. Concentrations of NO3-N, PO4-P, Ca, Mg, Fe, K, and CaCO3 (water hardness) in systems A (red), B (green), C (blue), and D (brown).
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