Integrating Aquaponics Systems in Commercial Farms

Modern farming is all about maximizing space utilization thanks to the consistently growing population that is occupying more and more of the farming land space. How then do we feed this population since the demand for food continues rising with every rise in a nation’s population without aquaponics systems in commercial farms? 

The solution lies in adopting modern agricultural technologies that take up smaller spaces of land while at the same time promoting higher yields. Aquaponics systems in Commercial Farms are one of these smart farming approaches that every potential commercial farmer should try.

You can also do it at a smaller scale in your farm to grow nutritious and healthy crops and fish organically in your small farm in the backyard or kitchen garden. Let us dig deeper and understand what, exactly, aquaponics is.  

What is aquaponics?

This is the integration of hydroponics and aquaculture in a recirculating system where the waste and metabolites produced by cultured fish are removed by nitrification and taken up by plants as fertilizer (Tilapia culture second edition 2020). Aquaculture is the combination of the two Agricultural practices, mixing aquaculture; raising aquatic animals with hydroponic in a symbiotic environment.

Modern agriculture depends to a great extent on inorganic chemicals as its backbone. These chemicals are costly to purchase for small-scale farmers, which makes producing less economical as profit margins reduce. The continued use of these artificial chemicals has led to several unhealthy side effects on the environment, humans, and domestic animals. Pollution from these inorganic chemicals has resulted in environmental degradation, and poor soil conditions that cannot support food production to the increasing human population. They can lead to pest chemical resistance and health-related diseases such as Cancer.

Hydroponics solves a lot of soil problems, although the systems have their own problems as well. Hydroponics systems are based on the careful application of expensive artificial nutrients made from a mixture of chemicals, salts, and trace elements. This is still an expensive approach to farming techniques for small-scale farmers.  All is not lost for a backyard garden though! There is Aquaponics.

Aquaponics systems in commercial farms are an alternative method of agriculture, which has the potential to address the problems associated with inorganic agriculture. Aquaponics offers hope for organic gardening. This is because it is an agricultural assessment respectful of the ecosystem that involves the cultivation of aquatic plants and animals in a recirculation environment (FOA AND Smart Fish).

How aquaponics works.

In aquaculture reservoirs, fish eat protein-rich foods and excrete waste (primarily ammonia). High-concentration ammonia is highly toxic to fish and you have to eliminate to support healthy living conditions for fish. This is through natural microbes such as ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOBs), which convert ammonia into nitrite, and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), which convert nitrite into nitrate.

Notably, many plants prefer nitrate as their source of nitrogen. Nitrate-rich water is pumped with unused food and decomposing vegetable matter into a biofilter. Then, within this biofilter, the bacteria decompose everything into organic nutrient solutions (rich in nitrogen). This solution is pumped through a clarifier to remove suspended solids that may affect plant roots. From here, nitrite-rich water is pumped into the culture bed, where the plants are cultivated hydroponically, which is in the system without soil.

As the solution flows into the growing beds, the roots of the plants absorb the nitrogen from the solution for their growth, cleaning up the water goes back into the fish tank.

Image _courtesy

Components for the aquaponics.

1. A culture bed for crops.

2. An aquarium for fish to live in.

3. A pump transfers water from the fish pond to the culture bed.

4. Standpipes or siphons drain water from the culture bed to the fish tank.

5. The water pump facilitates the movement of water throughout the system and facilitates aeration.

6. Grow media or floating rafts.

Benefits of an aquaponics system.

1. The product is free of inorganic chemicals. From a nutritional perspective, food grown in an aquaponics garden is healthier, fresher, and truly organic. Neither plants nor fish get contamination by pesticides or herbicides.

2. You grow food on a year-round basis. With the ability to regulate temperatures all year round, aquaponics farmers don’t have to rely on the weather to grow organic food.

3. Reduces water consumption. One of the major advantages of aquaponics is the minimal waste of water. Unlike traditional farming methods, such as soil gardening. Although the name implies ‘water,’ aquaponics uses approximately 90% less water than conventional agriculture.

4. Minimize agronomic practices. Plants grown in aquaponics have lower susceptibility to weeds and pests. Moreover, in the aquaponics bed, the above-ground culture, there is no digging as in traditional agriculture.

5. Rapid growth of plants. Plants grow naturally more quickly when there is direct access to nutrients. Plant roots have direct access to nutrients, hence the energy that would have been used to find nutrients is used for plant maturation.

6. Two Incomes for Commercial Aquaponics Farmers. Aquaponics can benefit from two sources of income: the vegetables and fruits they grow and the fish that can also be sold to food processors.

8. Promotes an independent lifestyle. Living off-grid is an increasingly popular lifestyle that many people are taking because of economic instability and rising food prices.

9. It is a space-saving system. Aquaponics farming does not require fertile agricultural soil. Aquaponics can be successfully performed on any soil, cement, gravel, rocky surfaces, or even dry land, which are difficult to use on conventional farms.

Is aquaponics the way to go?

Aquaponics is a sustainable and natural method of growing plants and aquatic animals. It promotes a symbiotic relationship between plants and aquatic animals, allowing small backyard growers and commercial growers to cultivate nutritious and organic crops and raise edible fish.  These techniques address major concerns associated with modern agriculture.

Aquaponics offers greater hope for organic gardening. Organic gardening is currently trending among many farmers as they have realized the side effects brought about by inorganic farming techniques. Aquaponics farming is becoming a feasible agribusiness on both small-scale and commercial levels, attracting much produce as a two-way income-generating activity.

REFERENCES

1. https://gogreenaquaponics.com/blogs/news/what-are-the-benefits-of-aquaponics

2. Tilapia culture second edition 2020

3. FAO and Smart Fish.

4. Image Credit: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4Nc09aWeACo&psig=AOvVaw3eZyV7h89rihJJlRv6L836&ust=1684842724173000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBMQjhxqFwoTCJC8_7LuiP8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABA6