Abstract
Outdoor, floating raft aquaponic systems using the brackish waters of the Negev Desert in Israel and a fresh water control are described. 7 m2 of vegetables and herbs were grown in each recirculating system with Tilapia sp. fish. Plant growth was excellent for species such as celery, Swiss chard, spring onions and watercress, and fish health and growth were good. Growth rates for fish were, however, low, with an upper limit of 1.1 g per day and would have increased with ad libitum feeding. Water quality was well controlled, and iron chelate was added to correct chlorosis problems. Leafy growth was very good, but fruiting could be improved with the addition of potassium (K) and other micronutrients.
Highlights
This paper focuses on aquaponics research undertaken in the Negev Desert, Israel, following initial experiments carried out in 2008/9 and reported in the ‘Journal of Applied Aquaculture in December 2010 (Kotzen and Appelbaum)
Whilst the initial research systems were established within an aquaculture greenhouse, the subsequent systems were established externally for two reasons: firstly, to ascertain how the plants and fish would react to being grown out of doors, and secondly, because the initial research established that poor airflow through the greenhouse during the warmer months resulted in poor growth for many plant species
The use of brackish water is significant as many countries have underground brackish water resources, and more than half the world’s underground water is saline
Summary
This paper focuses on aquaponics research undertaken in the Negev Desert, Israel, following initial experiments carried out in 2008/9 and reported in the ‘Journal of Applied Aquaculture in December 2010 (Kotzen and Appelbaum). Water Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen The water temperature in the brackish and freshwater floating raft systems were 21 C at stocking; at the end of July, the temperatures had risen to 27.2 C, and towards the end of September, the temperature rose to 29 C, with an average over the whole period, April to September, of 24.85 C.
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