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Management of the aquaponic systems










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    Book (stand-alone)
    The feasibility of aquaponics in Mauritius 2012
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    This report outlines the findings from an investigation into the viability of introducing aquaponics as an alternative technology to sustainably producing freshwater fish as part of the SmartFish program - Technical Assistance for Implementation of a regional fisheries strategy for ESA-IO region. Aquaponics is the integration of hydroponic plant culture in the land based culture of fish. In an aquaponic system the fish supply the nutrients to the plants (in the form of natural wastes) and the p lants form part of the water treatment system (by removing the wastes) from the recirculated fish water. A variety of fish and plants can be co-cultured in an aquaponic system. The benefits of an aquaponic system include; • the use very little new water, • higher yields of fish and plants per unit area than traditional agriculture, • disease and insect resistance to the plants, • no use of fertilizers or pesticides and • systems are scalable to meet the needs of the producer. Mauritius (a small island country) imports the majority of its food crops due to restrictions on water availability and adverse climatic conditions. Hydroponic vegetable production has been established and is starting to expand. As a first step a mission was undertaken to evaluate the viability of introducing aquaponics in Mauritius. The assessment and application of this technology although focused on the economics of Mauritius will have application to many African countries in the region, particularly those wher e freshwater fish are consumed.
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    Book (series)
    Small-scale aquaponic food production – Integrated fish and plant farming 2014
    This technical paper begins by introducing the concept of aquaponics, including a brief history of its development and its place within the larger category of soil-less culture and modern agriculture. It discusses the main theoretical concepts of aquaponics, including the nitrogen cycle and the nitrification process, the role of bacteria, and the concept of balancing an aquaponic unit. It then moves on to cover important considerations of water quality parameters, water testing, and water sourci ng for aquaponics, as well as methods and theories of unit design, including the three main methods of aquaponic systems: media beds, nutrient film technique, and deep water culture. The publication discusses in detail the three groups of living organisms (bacteria, plants and fish) that make up the aquaponic ecosystem. It also presents management strategies and troubleshooting practices, as well as related topics, specifically highlighting local and sustainable sources of aquaponic inputs. The publication also includes nine appendixes that present other key topics: ideal conditions for common plants grown in aquaponics; chemical and biological controls of common pests and diseases including a compatible planting guide; common fish diseases and related symptoms, causes and remedies; tools to calculate the ammonia produced and biofiltration media required for a certain fish stocking density and amount of fish feed added; production of homemade fish feed; guidelines and considerations fo r establishing aquaponic units; a cost–benefit analysis of a small-scale, media bed aquaponic unit; a comprehensive guide to building small-scale versions of each of the three aquaponic methods; and a brief summary of this publication designed as a supplemental handout for outreach, extension and education.
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    Book (series)
    Small Scale Aquaponic Food Production. Part 4 2013
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