Aquaponics for food production in different growing beds

Abstract

Soil is the most preferred medium for growth of vegetation worldwide.An experimental investigation has been carried out to study the efficiency of a system to grow plants without the presence of soil called aquaponics .Aquaponics is the process of growing plants and fish and it is combination of hydroponics combined with aquaculture. Water from an aquaculture which is filled with nutrients is transferred to hydroponic system which is used by the plants as nutrient supplements and then the water is recycled back to the fish tank. Ammonia in fish waste will be broken down by bacteria which will be converted into nitrites and then to nitrates. Nitrates thus produced can be used as a natural fertilizer to grow plants.Two different types of aqua phonic grow mediumsuch as clay pebbles and coconut coir pith experimented and compared for two different crops usingaquaphonic technique.