THE INTEGRATION OF FISH AND PLANT PRODUCTION: NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) AND BASIL (Ocimum basilicum) CULTURE IN RECIRCULATING AND AQUAPONIC SYSTEMS

Abstract

In the present study, tilapia and basil production was performed in an aquaponic system developed with the integration of fish and plant production in the same culture environment. The variation of elements in the water was monitored and their effects on fish growth performance and feed utilization together with the plant growth were recorded. Triplicate groups of fish tanks were used in two different culture systems (recirculating-RS and aquaponic system-AS). The RS consisted of a water filtration unit whereas the AS was set with the incorporation of basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) production with the roots in water instead of soil, absorbing the discharge water from fish tanks through their roots. Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) with an initial mean weight of 5.65 g were introduced into both RS and AS systems and fed a commercial diet (50% protein) for a period of 75 days. At the same time basil was set into the AS with roots in water, a photoperiod of 12:12 dark:light regime was applied for the monitoring of plant growth. Water physico-chemical parameters were recorded in both culture environments throughout the study period. Based on the findings in both culture systems, at the end of the experiment, it was found that the variations of amonium (NH 4 ), nitrite (NO 2 ) and nitrate (NO 3 ) recorded in the AS were lower then those measured in the RS culture unit.