Catfish population and organic media composition affect rice growth and yield in aquaculture-hydroponic systems

Abstract

Aquaculture and hydroponic systems have been integrated using a variety of designs using fish and plants. Aquaculture and hydroponics are combined with proper management of the plant nutrients using closed and recirculating systems. Catfish and paddy rice are both widely grown by farmers in Indonesia. Aquaculture-hydroponic systems integration with padi rice and catfish is rarely based on research, though. This study was conducted in the fish pond at Tadulako University’s Agriculture Faculty. The split-plot method was used to carry out an experimental design with two (two) components. The catfish population density is the first key plot element, with K0 (without catfish), K1, K2, and K3 (450 population/pond) corresponding to 150, 300, and 450, respectively, catfish per pond. The second sub-plot component is the organic media composition ratio of rice husk charcoal to compost (M1:1, M2:2, and M3:1). The findings demonstrated that as catfish populations and organic compost media (K3M3) were increased, rice growth and yield rose linearly. An integrated farming system could use the integration of a catfish aquaculture system and a hydroponic rice system.