Integrated Agriculture Aquaculture Research Articles

Maximization of brackish water productivity for the sustainable production of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cultivated under an integrated aquaculture–agriculture system

Freshwater scarcity, salinity, and poor soil fertility are the major challenges affecting both food and feed productions in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Utilization of brackish water in the production of saline-tolerant fish and valuable field crops under an integrated system is promising in the maximization of yield per crop. The aim of this study, therefore, was to (1) assess the effect of saline aquaculture wastewater on the growth, yield, forage quality, and nutritive composition of sorghum seeds and (2) assess the effect of different water qualities on the survival, growth performance, and health status of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. The experiment was conducted in a randomized completely block design of four salinity treatments with three replicates, i.e., control (freshwater mixed with inorganic fertilizers), 5000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, and 15,000 ppm. Our results indicated that although the control exhibited the highest growth (plant height, leaf number, internode number, leaf area, and soil–plant analysis development), grain, and forage yield, no significant differences were noted among the treatments. Likewise, no significant difference in the grain nutrient composition was noted among all the treatments. Assessment of the forage quality revealed improved crude protein content in the control compared to the saline treatments. However, no significant differences in the leaves and stalks fiber fractions were noted among all the treatments. Furthermore, rumen fermentation in terms of in vitro digestibility indicated no significant differences in the in vitro digestible dry matter, digestible organic matter, metabolic energy, net energy, microbial protein, short-chain fatty acids, and total dissolved nutrients among the treatments. However, rearing P. hypophthalmus in water salinities exceeding 10,000 ppm reduced the growth performance and health status of fish. Therefore, the integration of sorghum and P. hypophthalmus production in water salinities not exceeding 5000 ppm is a viable alternative to maximize brackish water productivity in freshwater-scarce regions.

Diversification strategies have a stabilizing effect for income and food availability during livelihood shocks: Evidence from small-scale aquaculture-agriculture systems in Myanmar during the COVID-19 pandemic

CONTEXTDiversification is an important strategy used by millions of small-scale food producers globally to improve yields, farm profitability, and food security. Diversification can also enable small-scale producers to cope better with livelihood shocks. However, it is not always clear through which pathways diversification practices can stabilize livelihoods and food security in small-scale production systems, especially in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVEIn this study we examined whether and how diversification practices stabilized income and food availability in small-scale food production systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The diversification practices explored in this study included fish polyculture and integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA), and their combination. We compared small-scale systems employing different combinations of these diversification strategies, with systems that did not contain them. METHODSWe analyzed 300 surveys of small-scale aquaculture producers in Myanmar. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the multivariate relationships between the adoption of diversification practices among the small-scale producers, and whether and how the adoption stabilized their livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSWe find that the integration of diversification practices in different small-scale aquaculture-agriculture (SSAA) production systems had generally positive effects for the stabilization of income, food availability or both during the COVID-19 pandemic. The novelty of the study is the unraveling of the differentiated pathways between production models that enabled these stabilization processes emerge. We find major divergences in the stabilization potential between polyculture and IAA, both in terms of the magnitudes of the stabilization effects and the pathways. Polyculture generally offered more significant stabilizing effects than IAA. Surprisingly the highest and more significant positive effects for the stabilization of food availability came through the purchase of food items from extra fish/crop income, rather than their increased self-consumption. SIGNIFICANCEOverall, the SSAA production systems combining different diversification practices could form proactive strategies to help small-scale food producers cope with livelihood shocks.

Smallholder aquaculture diversifies livelihoods and diets thus improving food security status: evidence from northern Zambia

BackgroundMuch has been made of the potential for aquaculture to improve rural livelihoods and food and nutrition security in Africa, though little evidence exists to back such claims. This study, conducted in northern Zambia, assessed the benefits of adopting aquaculture by comparing a sample of households with (n = 177) and without fishponds (n = 174).ResultsOn-farm food production was assessed by summing all crop and livestock activities and calculating a production diversity score (PDS) of key food groups. Aquaculture households had greater crop diversification and were more associated with key nutritious foods grown on the farm, possibly due to additional water irrigation capabilities. A greater diversity of cultivated crops led to better household dietary diversity scores (HDDS). We further assessed the frequency of consumption of 53 food items (including 30 fish species) over a period of 4 weeks via a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Using the Simpson’s Index, aquaculture households had greater diversity and evenness in the distribution of foods and fish species consumed, particularly for foods grown on the farm. Using livelihood and dietary factors in a multilevel probit regression on the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), we found that adopting aquaculture gave households almost two times more likelihood of improving their food security status. Households could further improve their food security outcomes by growing and consuming certain vegetables, especially those that could be integrated along pond dykes.ConclusionsThe study suggests three clear pathways to food security. (1) Increasing wealth and income from the sale of fish and integrated vegetables and/or crops, which can be used to purchase a diversity of foods. (2) Increasing food and nutrition security via the direct consumption of fish and vegetables grown on the farm. (3) Improving irrigation capabilities in integrated aquaculture–agriculture systems that has direct impact on pathways 1 and 2. Aquaculture should be promoted in the region for its crop diversification and food security benefits, so long as it fits the local farming system and livelihood context. Moving away from productivist approaches to nutrition-sensitive aquaculture widens the scope of uncovering the many benefits of pond farming in smallholder systems.

Adoption and impact of integrated agriculture aquaculture on income and productivity of smallholder fish farmers in Kenya

Adoption and impact of integrated agriculture aquaculture on income and productivity of smallholder fish farmers in Kenya

Integrated aquatic and terrestrial food production enhances micronutrient and economic productivity for nutrition-sensitive food systems

Integrated aquaculture–agriculture (IAA) is a form of crop diversification where aquatic and terrestrial foods are grown together on a single parcel of land. We compare economic and nutrient productivity per hectare for 12 distinct IAA combinations, identified from a representative survey of 721 farms in southern Bangladesh. Just under half of households integrate agriculture into their aquaculture production. Regression analyses show positive associations between the integration of terrestrial foods into aquatic farming systems and nutrient productivity, but that nutrient productivity is partly disconnected from economic productivity. However, we find that production of specific combinations of aquatic foods and vegetables can simultaneously improve nutrient productivity and economic productivity, thereby promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA). The approach demonstrated here can be applied to the design of NSA programmes that are important for realizing nutrition-sensitive food systems.

The effects of lotus-fish co-culture on the gut microbiome of Hefang crucian carp (Carassis auratus)

Gut microbiome plays an important role in host's development and reproduction. Lotus-fish co-culture (LFC) is a popular integrated agriculture–aquaculture farming system in China. However, there is still a relative dearth of information on how changes of aquaculture modes will affect the fish gut microbiome. In the present study, metagenomic sequencing was used to compare gut bacteria of the hybrid fish Hefang crucian carp (Carassius cuuieri ♀ × C. auratus var. red ♂) cultured in LFC and intensive pond culture (IPC) systems. The results indicated that aquaculture modes exerted great influences on the fish gut bacterial community. A significantly higher gut bacterial diversity was found in LFC than that in IPC (P < 0.05). The relative abundances of Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi were apparently higher in LFC than those in IPC, whereas Planctomycetota, Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobia showed opposite patterns. Besides, gut bacterial metabolic potentials involved in energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, environmental information processing, and cellular processes were significantly increased in LFC compared to those in IPC. On the contrary, the bacterial functional potentials related to nucleotide metabolism, DNA mismatch repair, as well as homologous recombination were significantly stimulated in the IPC system. Source‐tracking analysis suggested that fish gut bacterial community in IPC was originated mainly from water sources, whereas the gut bacterial community in LFC was originated from more unknown sources and soil sources. Our results provided new insight into the influence of aquaculture modes on the microbial community diversity and functionality in aquatic animals and highlighted the importance of environment microbiome in reshaping the gut microbes.

Adoption and intensity of integrated agriculture aquaculture among smallholder fish farmers in Kenya

This paper examined the adoption and intensity of using integrated agriculture aquaculture (IAA) among smallholder fish farming households in Kenya. The analysis was based on crossectional farm-level data collected from four counties in Kenya: Nyeri, Kakamega, Siaya, and Busia. Results showed that risk plays a central role in farmers’ decisions through the direct effect of the sample moments of the profit distribution. Specifically, the first moment (mean profit) had a highly significant positive effect on the adoption and intensity of IAA. Profit variability, as reflected by the second moment, negatively impacted adoption and the intensity of IAA. Other factors that were important in IAA adoption included the proportion of economically active members, full-time land ownership, awareness of IAA, accessibility to irrigation, and flat farm topography, all of which were statistically significant in influencing IAA adoption positively. Other factors which were found to influence the intensity of IAA positively and significantly were: age, education level, number of economically active members, full-time land ownership, awareness of IAA, flat farm topography, and clay soil type. Thus, IAA should be promoted alongside farmers’ education, farm size, access to affordable and accessible credit, number of farm enterprises, and IAA awareness as a mechanism for enhancing smallholder IAA adoption and intensity of use.

Integrated agriculture-aquaculture as an alternative to improving small-scale fish production in Zambia

Aquaculture is a significant industry in food production, and its contribution to food and nutrition security is well acknowledged. Zambia’s aquaculture production has continued to increase significantly, thus playing a key role in supplying animal protein sources for human consumption. However, recent estimates show that 75% of the national aquaculture production comes from large-scale commercial producers despite being by far the minority while the majority of small-scale producers contribute the remaining 25% of the total annual production. This low production by small-scale producers is attributed to insufficient financial resources, poor management and utilization of farm resources, lack of access to competitive markets, and more recently a changing climate. In this research, we examine the viability of integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) as a means for small-scale producers in Zambia to boost their aquaculture output despite the numerous obstacles they face. In addition, the obstacles that could prevent small-scale farmers from adopting IAA have been emphasized. We conclude that IAA has the potential to dramatically boost small-scale aquaculture production in Zambia, but information and understanding must be improved to make it a more feasible alternative.

A decadal outlook for global aquaculture

A decadal outlook for global aquaculture

Using smart technologies in Integrated agriculture – aquaculture (IAA) systems

Using smart technologies in Integrated agriculture – aquaculture (IAA) systems

Effects of Protein Level on the Production and Growth Performance of Juvenile Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) and Environmental Parameters in Paddy Fields

Rice–crab co-culture systems represent integrated agriculture–aquaculture systems developed in China over the last 30 years. The rice–crab co-culture area comprised approximately 1.386 × 105 hm2 in 2019. However, there is no specific feed designed for Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) cultured in this system until now. In this study, we investigated feed formulae for the nutritional requirements of Chinese mitten crab in this mode. The control group was not fed with any artificial feed (Co), and the experimental groups were fed with three different feeds of 15% (T15), 30% (T30), or 45% (T45) protein content, respectively. Growth performance variations in E. sinensis were investigated along with water quality, phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic vascular plants, and benthic animals in the paddy fields to determine the effect of crabs and their diet on the paddy ecosystem. Dietary protein levels had no significant effect on water quality. The biomass and species of phytoplankton, zooplankton, aquatic vascular plants, and zoobenthos in the paddy field were affected by crabs and their diet. Morphological parameters of crabs were significantly more pronounced in the high-protein group than in the other groups. However, the T45 diet negatively affected production by increasing feed costs, causing precocious puberty and inducing water eutrophication. In conclusion, adding a 15% protein compound feed can meet the nutritional needs of crabs, reduce culture costs, and improve water quality. The discharged water had low ammonia nitrogen and nitrite content and no eutrophication occurred, so the water could be recycled. These findings provide a scientific reference for supporting rice and fish co-cultivation.

Integrated agriculture aquaculture systems (IAAS)

This datasheet on Integrated agriculture aquaculture systems (IAAS) covers Identity, Description, Further Information.

Integrated Agriculture-aquaculture Farming Systems in Vietnam: The Status Quo and Future Perspectives

The integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) farming system has been considered a form of diversified agriculture applied in Asia. In this paper, several IAA farming systems practiced in Vietnam are described, and their impacts are also reviewed. It is speculated that in developing countries like Vietnam, the IAA farming system should be targeted for support as a sustainable food safety model and a form of ecosystem-based technology to reduce environmental impacts, adapt to climate change, help avoid risks from market fluctuation, and increase incomes in comparison with monoculture farming.

Dynamics and Determinants of Participation in Integrated Aquaculture–Agriculture Value Chain: Evidence from a Panel Data Analysis of Indigenous Smallholders in Bangladesh

This study examines the dynamics of integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA) value chain participation and assess the determinants of participation (non-participators, continuing participators, and leavers) using three wave panel data obtained from small-scale indigenous farm households in Northern and North-eastern region of Bangladesh. We employ panel estimation strategies to control for omitted variables and endogenous regressors. The results confirm some previous findings that educated, larger family size with better access to extension, market information and community-based organisation (CBO) are more likely to participate and continue in IAA value chain activities. Importantly, farm size and farm income does not matters for IAA value chain continuous participation, suggesting that IAA value chain activities are appropriate for resource-poor households who are only able to afford low-input technology. The results also indicate that the factors influencing continued participation and dis-participation of the IAA value chain activities especially for up and downstream activities are different.

When more is more: taking advantage of species diversity to move towards sustainable aquaculture

ABSTRACTHuman population growth has increased demand for food products, which is expected to double in coming decades. Until recently, this demand has been met by expanding agricultural area and intensifying agrochemical‐based monoculture of a few species. However, this development pathway has been criticised due to its negative impacts on the environment and other human activities. Therefore, new production practices are needed to meet human food requirements sustainably in the future. Herein, we assert that polyculture practices can ensure the transition of aquaculture towards sustainable development. We review traditional and recent polyculture practices (ponds, recirculated aquaculture systems, integrated multi‐trophic aquaculture, aquaponics, integrated agriculture–aquaculture) to highlight how they improve aquaculture through the coexistence and interactions of species. This overview highlights the importance of species compatibility (i.e. species that can live in the same farming environment without detrimental interactions) and complementarity (i.e. complementary use of available resources and/or commensalism/mutualism) to achieve efficient and ethical aquaculture. Overall, polyculture combines aspects of productivity, environmental protection, resource sharing, and animal welfare. However, several challenges must be addressed to facilitate polyculture development across the world. We developed a four‐step conceptual framework for designing innovative polyculture systems. This framework highlights the importance of (i) using prospective approaches to consider which species to combine, (ii) performing integrated assessment of rearing environments to determine in which farming system a particular combination of species is the most relevant, (iii) developing new tools and strategies to facilitate polyculture system management, and (iv) implementing polyculture innovation for relevant stakeholders involved in aquaculture transitions.

Water and Land as Shared Resources for Agriculture and Aquaculture: Insights from Asia

Although agriculture and aquaculture depend on access to increasingly scarce, shared water resources to produce food for human consumption, they are most often considered in isolation. We argue that they should be treated as integrated components of a single complex system that is prone to direct or indirect tradeoffs that should be avoided while also being amenable to synergies that should be sought. Direct tradeoffs such as competition for space or the pollution of shared water resources usually occur when the footprints of agriculture and aquaculture overlap or when the two practices coexist in close proximity to one another. Interactions can be modulated by factors such as hydropower infrastructure and short-term economic incentives, both of which are known to disrupt the balance between aquaculture and agriculture. Indirect tradeoffs, on the other hand, play out across distances, i.e., when agricultural food sources are diverted to feed animals in aquaculture. Synergies are associated with the culture of aquatic organisms in rice paddies and irrigation waters, seasonal rotations of crop cultivation with aquaculture, and various forms of integrated agriculture–aquaculture (IAA), including jitang, a highly developed variant of pond-dike IAA. Policy decisions, socioeconomic considerations, and technology warrant increased scrutiny as determinants of tradeoffs and synergies. Priority issues for the future include guiding the expansion of aquaculture from its traditional base in Asia, taking advantage of the heterogeneity that exists within both agricultural and aquaculture systems, the development of additional metrics of tradeoffs and synergies, and adapting to the effects of climate change.

Environmental Tradeoffs between Nutrient Recycling and Greenhouse Gases Emissions in an Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture System.

The unlimited nitrogen (N) availability that has characterized crop production in the last few decades is accompanied by environmental burdens, including the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with fertilizer production, post-application nitrate (NO3–) pollution of water bodies, and emissions of reactive gaseous N forms into the atmosphere. Here, we quantified the environmental tradeoffs of replacing mineral N fertilizer with NO3– and ammonium (NH4+) originating from effluent water of aquaculture in a cucumber (Cucumis sativus) cultivation system. While the yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and NO3– leaching were similar between the cucumbers fertilized and irrigated (fertigated) by aquaculture effluent water containing 100 mg of NO3–-N L–1 (AN), by aquaculture effluent water supplemented with NH4+ (AN+), or by tap water with NO3– and NH4+ added (FN+), there were significant differences in the nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions between the systems. The N2O emissions peaked after each irrigation event followed by an exponential decline. The cumulative N2O emissions were between 60 and 600 g N2O-N ha–1, smaller than predicted based on a fertilizer application rate of 600 kg N ha–1 and were in the order AN+ ≫ FN+ > AN.

Sustainability of the rice-shrimp farming system in Mekong Delta, Vietnam: a climate adaptive model

PurposeAgricultural systems in Mekong Delta have transformed to cope with climate change. Various researches pointed out that integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) farming systems (i.e., rice-shrimp, rice-fish…) emerged as potential climate adaptive practices. However, limited studies are attempting to assess the sustainability of these agricultural practices. Therefore, it is essential to assess whether or not these systems will be sustainable in the context of climate change and what can be done to make it sustainable. The present study conducted the sustainability assessment of the rice-shrimp system to identify potential areas for improvement as well as policy implication to increase resilience and adaptation of coastal IAA system which could contribute to the understanding of other coastal agricultural deltas around the globe.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a quantitative approach including the assessment protocol of van Asselt et al. (2014), the assessment framework of Vanloon et al. (2005), and the MCA methodology to flexibly and holistically assess the sustainability level of agricultural systems.FindingsResults concluded that rice-shrimp systems have the potential to improve livelihood, food security, and adaptation of coastal farmers. Major improvements should be considered for productivity, efficiency, and equity themes, while minor improvements can be made for stability, durability, and compatibility themes.Originality/valueThis research could be used as a guideline for sustainability assessment in a context-specific case study of IAA, which showed a potential for the application of other climate-smart IAAs in similar contexts around the globe.

On Station Evaluation of Integrated Agriculture Aquaculture (IAA) on Yield of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum) and Tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum).

Evaluation of integrated agriculture aquaculture (IAA) was conducted on station in the National Fisheries and Aquatic Life Research center (NFALRC), Sebeta. In this trial the effect of irrigation with pond water and spring water and application of inorganic fertilizer on yield and other parameters for Tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) were evaluated using randomized complete block design with three replications. Results show that there is variation in total yield and marketable yield as well as clusters per plant of tomato with plots treated with fertilizer having higher values. Among examined parameters, only clusters per plant of tomato varied significantly (P&lt;0.05) among treatments. However, marketable yield and yield per plant did not show significant variation (p&gt;0.05) among treatments. Nevertheless, all parameters in this trial did not show significant difference among treatments (P&gt;0.05). The results of this trial indicate that using pond water to irrigate horticulture plots can partially replace the use of inorganic fertilizers thereby reducing both cost and environmental effects.

Contingent Valuation of Sustainable Integrated Agriculture–Aquaculture Products: The Case of Rice–Fish Farming Systems in South Korea

There has been growing acceptance in Asia that consumer participation in green consumption can lead to sustainable agriculture and aquaculture development. In this context, this study investigates how consumers’ psychological (i.e., attitudes and social norms) and socio-economic characteristics affect their willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainable agricultural products. To this end, the study incorporates attitude and social norms as components of the theory of reasoned action into the contingent valuation method, thereby establishing an estimation model for consumers’ WTP. Based on an online market survey of adults in South Korea from June to July 2018, the results show that consumers’ attitudes and social norms positively affect WTP for the rice and loach produced through integrated agriculture–aquaculture (IAA). However, the variables in the model affect consumers’ WTP differently, depending on the type of IAA product. For IAA rice, both socio-economic (e.g., income) and psychological variables affect WTP. However, in the case of IAA loach, only social norms are statistically significant in affecting consumers’ WTP.