By Stella Meng
Aquaponics is a self-sustaining form of agriculture that combines the practice of raising aquatic animals (aquaculture) with the concept of growing plants that are fully dependent on water (hydroponics). Altogether in the same environment, a closed-loop system is created that stimulates the growth of both fish and plants at the same time.
As shown in the diagram, the aquatic animals—more commonly fish—excrete their waste in a tank of water. The water, now infused with nutrient-rich feces, gets transported into the hydroponics tank and acts as a natural fertilizer to sustain the growth of the plants. Consequently, profiting off the flourishing growth reliant on aquatic presence, the plants return the favour by sending back fresh water to the aquatic tank.
A natural ecosystem
The function of an aquaponics system relies primarily on the biological interaction between the aquatic and plant organisms. This connection can be considered a miniature version of an ecosystem! In aquaponics, the fish and plants have a give-and-take relationship where they both benefit by being enclosed together in an organic manner, however, this has to be maintained without interference. Consequently, if pesticides were to be applied to the plants, the fish would decline drastically. In a reverse matter, if the fish were put on growth hormones or antibiotics, the plants would suffer. Therefore, aquaponics represents a natural ecosystem where even the tiniest disturbance between the biological cooperation, could cause the whole system to collapse.
Environmental benefits
Compared to traditional agriculture, aquaponics is designed to use 90% less water because of its efficiency in using the same quantity of water to sustain both produce and aquaculture! Additionally, the well-controlled maintenance behind an average aquaponics system allows plants and aquatic animals to grow at a faster pace, using less resources over the course of cultivation. Finally, since aquaponics generates organically as a water ecosystem, the use of land is significantly decreased, making no use of any tractors or field chemicals.
Disadvantages
Although aquaponics seems to be the ideal eco-friendly alternative, the system comes with high levels of maintenance, along with expensive upfront costs. Water chemistry is a crucial part of the natural ecosystem involved in aquaponics. To keep the system relatively healthy, frequent checkups on the ammonia, pH, and nitrate levels are mandatory.
References
Johnston, A., Ali, H., & Azim, H. (2022, April 6). Aquaponics: A Promising Tool for Environmentally Friendly Farming. Frontiers for Young Minds. Retrieved August 28, 2023, from https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2022.707801
Mulhern, O. (2023, January 23). Aquaponics System: Definition and Benefits to Food Security. Earth.Org. Retrieved August 28, 2023, from https://earth.org/data_visualization/aquaponics-a-solution-to-food-insecurity/
Underwood, J., & Dunn, B. (2017, February). Aquaponics | Oklahoma State University. Oklahoma State University Extension. Retrieved August 28, 2023, from https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/aquaponics.html
White, H. (2021, January 28). What is Aquaponics? The Aquaponic Source. Retrieved August 28, 2023, from https://www.theaquaponicsource.com/what-is-aquaponics/
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