Abstract:
Aquaponics is a developing agricultural technology that is rapidly gaining
worldwide popularity, both for commercial production and small-scale,
backyard systems. The aquaponics concept involves integrating aquaculture
and hydroponics, where fish wastewater is utilized as a nutrient source for
plants grown in soilless culture. Present study was carried out to assess
efficiency of two types of plant beds i.e. coir peat & saw dust in terms of
nutrient removal and to assess growth and survival of fish (Oreochromis
mossambicus) and growth of spinach plant in aquaponic system. Single
aquaponic system consists of a fiberglass tank with fish, spinach plants
grown in three types of plants beds i.e. 50%coir dust + 50% soil, and 50%
saw dust + 50% soil are considered as the two treatments, while 100% soil
was considered as the untreated control. Each treatment was triplicated and
the experimental design was a complete block design. Drained water from
plant beds was re-circulated into the fish tanks. There is no significant
difference (p> 0.05) of plant biomass and the height increments of the plants
in three different beds. However, there is a significant difference (p< 0.05) in
fish biomass changes in three different treatments but there is no significant
difference in the total length increase in them. Data revealed that the coir
dust which is considered as a waste from coir string industry can be used as
plant bed substrate in aquaponic systems.
