Effect of Hydraulic Loading Rate on Production of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) with Pearlspot (Etroplus Suratensis) in Recirculating Aquaponic System

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of hydraulic loading rate (HLR) on tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) with pearlspot (Etroplus suratensis) in a recirculating aquaponic system. The experiment consisted of three treatment groups with different HLR of 3 m.day-1 (T1), 6 m.day-1 (T2), and 12 m.day-1 (T3); while the control (C) group had HLR of 3 m.day-1 without plants. Tomato and pearlspot were stocked at 4 plants.m-2 and 0.86 kg.m-3 (142 no.m-3 with an average initial weight of 6.06±0.09 g), respectively. The results indicated that the HLR had profound influence on the growth of both plant and fish. Tomato growth was highest in T1 (1.60±0.04 kg.m-2), followed by T2 (1.35±0.05 kg.m-2) and T3 (1.09±0.069 kg.m-2). Pearlspot growth was highest in T2 (13.57±0.04 g), followed by T1 (13.48±0.04 g), T3 (13.17±0.01 g), and C (13.00±0.28 g). The removal of nitrate (65.71%), phosphate (46.43%), and potassium (62.74%) was highest in T1, followed by T2, T3, and C. Based on the tomato and pearlspot growth as well as the maximum nutrient removal, a HLR of 3.0 m.day-1 can be recommended for tomato and pearlspot production in an aquaponic system.