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Study on effect of aquaponics farming technique on greenhouse

(polyhouse) planted tomatoes.

Introduction:
Aquaponics is bio-integrated system that links Aquaculture (fresh water fish farming) and hydroponics
(cultivation without soil) with vegetable, flowers or herbs cultivation. The system relies on fish waste to
supply nutrient to plants growth, in terns, the plants (nitrification in soil by Nitrobactor sp bacteria)
clean, filter, and recycle water back to the fish creating a
symbiotic relationship. In India, Aquaponic could serve
Vigyan ashram has conducted
model for sustainable farming, especially in combination
various experimental trials on
with advance farming technique like greenhouse / polyhouse
aquaponics terrace garden and
farming and high density aquaculture.
Aquaponics farming would be effective used particularly
under controlled, semi-control greenhouse farming technique
with following important advantages

commercial farming during in


2011-13. These trials showed that
vegetable like spinach, tomato,
brinjal (egg plant), and vine crops
can be successfully grown in
aquaponics system. Result of
these trials are published on-

Increased productivity by integration of fish and


plants (high density farming).
Sustainable farming through nutrients recycling from
www.wordpress.com/vigyanashram.com
fish waste.
Water re-use through biological filtration, especially
in water scarcity area of arid zone.
Fresh water high density fish farming in artificial farm tanks.

Vigyan ashram has conducted experiment several trials on this technique, to test its feasibility of in
Indian contest. The trials are conducted to test aquaponics application as terrace garden (urban
agriculture), commercial vegetable farming trials under polyhouse farming for cucumber, spinach and
tomato cultivation. This article mainly deals with recent experiment trial of aquaponics on tomato
cultivation at Vigyan ashram, Pabal.
Study purpose:
Purpose of trial was to study Effect of aquaponics farming technique on yield tomato (Solanum
lycopersicum) crop, grown under polyhouse farming.

Material and methods:


A field experiment was conducted to study effect of aquaponics technique on tomato crop during
October 2013 to April 2014 at Vigyan ashram, Pabal. Tomato crop (Nowara variety) was cultivated in
polyhouse (natural ventilated), using plastic trough beds with drainage system and 1ft deep red lateritic
soil. Following are the details of experiment design

Experiment was designed with 2 set of treatments as aquaponics and control plot in 22 * 12 M
naturally ventilated polyhouse.
For aquaponics treatment plants were supplied water from farm tank (HDPE plastic paper lined)
of approximately 90000 lit (3190.00 Ft3) capacity and containing 12 Kg of Tilapia fish
(Oreochromis niloticus).
Growing beds are filled with red lateritic soil with maximum water filtration capacity.
Water from fish tank was used for aquaponics treatment beds after passing through disc filter.
Excess water from aquaponics beds was collected through; drainage line (75 mm half cut PVC
pipe) fixed to each bed and sent back to fish tank.
Control treatment were having same growing media and drainage system with only difference of
normal water use (without fish water source), for irrigation.
Tomato seedlings of Nowara variety (sourced from KF biotech, Pune, Maharashtra ) were
planted at spacing of 1 * 0.45 meter (total of 153 plants in 13 beds- Aquaponics 7 beds &
Control- 6 Beds).
For both beds, water is supplied through drip irrigation system at 1.5 Kg pressure with average
discharge of 23 Lit / min / bed.
All plants (Control & Aquaponics) are supplied with basal dose of FYM @ 0.5 Kg / plant. In
addition to this foliar spaying was used to meet macro & micro nutrient demand.

Experiment records:
Vegetative growth

Control and aquaponics plots are compared for plant height, number shoots and number of
flowers per plant, during first 90 days of active vegetative growth.
4 Plants from each bed (control & aquaponics) were tagged for recording vegetative growth
parameters.
T- Test were calculated to ensure significance of data @ P=<0.05.

Yield comparison

Each row from aquaponics and control treatment was harvested separated for recording weight
of fruits/ row.
T-test were calculated to ensure significant of data @ P=<0.05.
Fish growth was recorded for selected 10 fingerlings (kept separately in cage) with 60 days
interval.

Water quality parameters

Fish tank water was analyzed at monthly interval for recording level of Ammonia (NH3), Nitrate
(NO3) and Nitrite (NO2).
Soil samples from both treatments are analyzed for their nutrient content at start and end of trial.

Result and discussion:

Different vegetative growth factors of crop recorded during first 90 days of growth, as that of plant
height, number shoot and number of flowers per plant. Data represented in below table-1, shows average
records of selected plants from each bed for aquaponics and control treatment.
Similarly yield of each bed was recorded separately and compared with T-test analysis at 0.05 % level of
significance with null hypothesis saying there is no different in 2 sets of treatment. Data represented in
table-2 shows total harvest per bed.

Table No-1: Vegetative growth record of selected plants -

Aquaponics
plants

Average
plant
height
(cm)

A1
A2
A3
A4
B1
B2
B3
B4
C1
C2
C3
C4
D1
D2
D3
D4
E1
E2
E3
E4
F1
F2
F3
F4
G1
G2
G3
G4

284
298
298
286
290
270
280
289
292
280
279
273
276
256
236
261
288
278
307
269
286
264
288
266
281
278
283
272

Control
plant

Average
plant
height
(Cm)

H1
H2
H3
H4
I1
I2
I3
I4
J1
J2
J3
J4
K1
K2
K3
K4
l1
L2
L3
L4
M1
M2
M3
M4

247
279
260
285
273
270
254
268
262
272
250
292
290
275
278
265
198
272
277
269
251
269
279
287

p=<0.05

Aquaponics
plants

Average
number
of shoots

0.009
(NS)

A1
A2
A3
A4
B1
B2
B3
B4
C1
C2
C3
C4
D1
D2
D3
D4
E1
E2
E3
E4
F1
F2
F3
F4
G1
G2
G3
G4

41
29
41
33
32
32
29
36
35
25
24
31
23
23
24
20
31
24
29
32
31
31
21
27
27
25
24
30

T-test

Control
plant

Average
number
of shoots

H1
H2
H3
H4
I1
I2
I3
I4
J1
J2
J3
J4
K1
K2
K3
K4
l1
L2
L3
L4
M1
M2
M3
M4

27
26
25
23
27
30
23
31
18
21
20
29
23
26
23
24
15
15
23
20
26
29
32
35

p=<0.05

Aquaponics
plants

Average
number
of buds

0.005

A1
A2
A3
A4
B1
B2
B3
B4
C1
C2
C3
C4
D1
D2
D3
D4
E1
E2
E3
E4
F1
F2
F3
F4
G1
G2
G3
G4

89
83
91
84
76
82
76
82
86
74
75
84
72
75
76
71
86
83
87
90
95
79
86
91
90
84
85
82

T-test

Control
plant

Average
number
of buds

H1
H2
H3
H4
I1
I2
I3
I4
J1
J2
J3
J4
K1
K2
K3
K4
l1
L2
L3
L4
M1
M2
M3
M4

88
96
85
91
91
84
84
90
83
87
81
83
78
72
76
82
64
75
90
83
92
94
99
99

T-test
p=<0.05

0.14
(NS)

As show in above table, there was no significant difference for effect of aquaponics treatment over
average plant height and number of flowers (buds) per plant. The maximum average height of 298 Cm
recorded in aquaponics treatment as compare to 292 Cm in control treatment. As far as average numbers
of buds were concern, control treatment recorded highest of 99 buds/plant as compare to 95 buds/plants
in aquaponics treatment.
In case of average number of shoots per plants, this is found that they are significantly higher in
aquaponics treatment as compare to control. In aquaponics treatment highest number o f shoots per plant
were 41, as compare to 35 shoot in control treatment.

Yield of crop
This was found that all aquaponics treatment beds produced more tomatoes expect bed number six. The
average yield of aquaponics treatment was 55.37 Kg / bed as compare to 46.10 Kg / bed in control
treatment. Similarly average yield per plant was recorded 3.26 Kg in aquaponics as compare to 2.71 Kg
in control treatment. This shows 20 % increase in average yield of tomato per plant in aquaponics
treatment.

70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
Aquaponics
30.00
Control
20.00
10.00
0.00
1

Table -2: Yield record per bed.

Yield row
wise
Date of
A
harvesting
16.01.2014 3.89
20.01.2014 0.00
26.01.2014 3.17
30.01.2014 0.00
05.02.2014 2.65
12.02.2014 1.92
19.02.2014 5.51
20.02.2014 4.64
23.02.14
1.00
27.02.2014 8.92
6.03.2014 6.83
11.03.2014 5.18
19.03.2014 0.95
26.03.2014 3.74
05.04.2014 8.31
09.04.2014 1.27
13.04.2014 4.25
Total
62.23
Yield per
bed
Average
per bed
Average
per plant

Aquaponics treatment

Control treatment

Total

2.67
0.00
2.21
0.77
1.00
1.87
1.98
5.15
1.10
3.28
5.51
5.04
3.39
7.83
6.35
0.69
4.09
52.92

2.80
0.00
2.80
0.62
0.96
2.97
2.79
5.20
0.00
6.90
5.08
2.65
1.18
4.97
8.23
1.72
3.06
51.93

1.18
0.00
2.15
0.09
0.54
1.80
1.19
3.78
2.31
4.97
6.88
3.15
1.20
3.65
5.25
1.93
3.52
43.58

2.56
0.00
3.16
0.90
0.29
3.00
0.00
7.32
0.00
6.21
3.62
2.95
2.04
5.68
10.05
1.79
4.41
53.98

1.74
0.00
3.17
0.61
0.68
2.78
0.00
6.26
0.00
5.58
6.97
4.45
3.41
8.12
10.29
1.30
5.52
60.88

2.65
0.00
3.48
0.32
0.47
2.10
0.00
6.04
0.00
6.41
7.30
3.22
2.43
8.81
10.96
1.58
6.28
62.06

17.49
0.00
20.14
3.32
6.59
16.43
11.46
38.40
4.41
42.27
42.19
26.64
14.58
42.81
59.44
10.28
31.12
387.57

4.07 2.14 2.35 2.25 0.82 4.93


0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
2.98 2.07 1.97 4.22 1.91 1.58
0.58 0.12 0.11 0.24 0.37 1.22
0.39 1.02 1.02 0.35 0.68 2.55
3.16 2.24 3.50 3.11 4.62 4.13
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
4.97 3.14 5.13 4.09 5.06 4.88
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.00
6.66 6.63 7.13 4.82 4.89 6.50
3.08 5.08 4.18 3.17 4.14 8.35
1.64 0.89 2.41 2.53 1.36 4.51
3.15 1.32 1.99 1.25 1.52 3.71
4.87 4.03 3.84 3.42 3.90 6.39
7.88 6.08 5.26 4.38 3.90 3.25
0.65 1.38 0.32 1.25 1.13 1.95
3.09 4.62 4.33 5.28 4.43 8.07
47.16 40.75 44.53 41.46 39.71 63.02

55.37

46.10

3.26

2.71

Total
16.56
4.00
14.73
2.63
6.00
20.76
0.00
27.26
0.10
36.62
28.01
13.35
12.93
26.45
30.74
6.69
29.81
276.6

T-test analysis of yield assuming equal variance-

Aquaponics Control
55.37
46.10
46.80
76.17
7.00
6.00
60.15

Mean
Variance
Observations
Pooled Variance
Hypothesized Mean
Difference
df
t Stat
P(T<=t) one-tail
t Critical one-tail
P(T<=t) two-tail
t Critical two-tail

0.00
11.00
2.15
0.03
1.80
0.05
2.20

The T-test analysis of tomato yield, showed that yield of aquaponics treatment is significantly higher
that control treatment at 0.05 % level of significance. The critical T (1.80), at 11 degrees of freedom and
at 0.05 % level of significant was lower than calculate t (2.15), so null hypothesis which say there is
significant difference between aquaponics and control treatment was rejected.
Soil analysis results
Soil samples from both treatments are analyzed for pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Organic carbon
(OC) and major-minor nutrients. Soil analysis results showed (Table-3) that Organic carbon (OC)
content and nitrogen in aquaponics treatment remained higher as compare to control beds. Organic
carbon and nitrogen content in aquaponics was higher in aquaponics at start of trial, due to earlier trial
residues in beds. Table-3: Soil analysis result.
SOIL ANALYSIS RESULT
Results
pH(ppm)

EC
(ms/cm)

OC
(%)

N
(Kg/He)

P(Kg/He)

K(Kg/He)

Zn (ppm)

Cu(ppm)

Fe(ppm)

Mn(ppm)

Date of Test29/10/2013

Treatment
Aquaponics
Control

7.4
6.7

0.22
0.7

0.66
0.18

0.38
0.10

32
36

210
132

1.71
1.12

7.15
2.96

1.19
2.02

28.95
22.33

Date of Test15/04/2014

Aquaponics
Control

7.9
7.9

0.12
0.46

0.51
0.37

0.30
0.21

15
18

106
146

0.69
1.23

1.06
1.7

1.1
2.25

15.36
25.01

Electrical conductivity (EC) of soil in aquaponics found less than control soil, this was due to leaching
of extra salts back to fish tank, whereas in control bed it higher due to salts deposition through irrigation
water.
Fish growth:Table-4 showed, fish growth rate (increase in weight of selected 10 fish fingerlings) in fish tank. Data
showed that weight of fish grown from 2gm of initial weight to maximum of 109 gm during 120-130
days of trail. This shows potential of fish production in aquaponics system.
Table-4 : Fish growth record.
Sr.No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Fish Growth record (wt in gms)


30.10.2013 31.12.2013 2.03.2014
2
25
80
3
25
109
2
20
88
5
22
65
5
19
70
6
32
35
7
19
48
9
19
40
2
20
30
3
20
42

Summary:
A trial was conducted to study effect of aquaponics technique on tomato crop under polyhouse farming.
Aquaponics system was setup using plastic trough beds with drainage system and red lateritic soil as
growing media. Tilapia fish was reared in plastic paper line farm tank and same water was used for
aquaponics treatment. Tomato plants are planted with 2 treatment sets as Aquaponics and control
(without fish tank water). It was found that aquaponics treatment significantly produced more number of
shoots per plant as compare to control treatment. The average yield of aquaponics plots (beds) were
55.37 kg and compare to 46.10 Kg of control beds. Under t-test analysis, aquaponics treatment found
significantly different than control at 0.05 % level of significance.
Acknowledgement:
We are very thankful to Department of Science & Technology (SEED Division) and Mr. Diamond
Meghaji for their support and guidance for carrying out this experiment.

Photographs:-

Plastic troughs (beds) with drainage facility

Tomato crop (4 week old)

Tomato seedling (1 week old)

Tomato crop (fruiting stage)

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