Abstract
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) was cultivated in Rostock, Northern Germany, in a decoupled aquaponic system with African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) under intensive rearing conditions by using three hydroponic components, the dynamic root floating technique (DRF), the raft technique, and grow pipes. A 25% of the recommended feed input still allowed African catfish growth and provided adequate nitrogen and calcium levels in the process water. After 36 days, the plants were examined with respect to 16 different growth parameters. DRF performed significantly better than raft and/or grow pipes in 11 parameters. Total weight of basil was significantly higher in DRF (107.70 ± 34.03 g) compared with raft (82.02 ± 22.74 g) and grow pipes (77.86 ± 23.93 g). The economically important leaf biomass was significantly higher in wet and dry weight under DRF cultivation (45.36 ± 13.53 g; 4.96 ± 1.57 g) compared with raft (34.94 ± 9.44 g; 3.74 ± 1.04 g) and grow pipes (32.74 ± 9.84 g; 3.75 ± 1.22 g). Two main factors limited plant growth: an unbalanced nutrient concentration ratio and high water temperatures with an average of 28 °C (max 34.4 °C), which resulted in reduced root activity in raft and grow pipes. DRF was able to maintain root activity through the 5 cm air space between the shoots and the nutrient solution and thus produced significantly more biomass. This suggests DRF to be used for basil aquaponics under glass house conditions with high-temperature scenarios. Future studies are needed to optimize nutrient loads and examine systems with the plant roots exposed to air (Aeroponics).
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilAquaponics is a scientific field of increasing relevance due to the possibility of sustainable, resource-friendly food production [1]
The growth performance of C. gariepinus was satisfactory over the entire experimental whichand thethe process water was1.43, transferred into specific hydroponic subsystem period, feed conversion ratio (FCR) values of 0.94, and 2.40 were as expected, under consideration of the reduced feeding rate of Depending on homogeneous nutrient conditions
O. basilicum showed adequate growth performance in a decoupled aquaponic system design, by using aquaculture effluents of C. gariepinus cultivation under 25% of the recommended feed input
Summary
Introduction published maps and institutional affilAquaponics is a scientific field of increasing relevance due to the possibility of sustainable, resource-friendly food production [1]. There are still many open questions and research areas in this young discipline, such as the growth potential of different crops in various subsystems [2]. Plant species such as basil (Ocimum basilicum) and spearmint (Mentha spicata) already show a high potential for aquaponic cultivation, and these species are economically important and should, be further investigated in aquaponics in combination with different fish species [3,4,5]. Plant production in aquaponics was dominated to 81% by basil (Ocimum basilicum) and has been the most cultivated herb [3]. Basil develops a distinctive and unmistakable scent via oil glands on the leaves and is considered one iations
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