Aquaponics Production of Wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) in Different Horticultural Substrates with African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) in Northern Germany
In the present study, wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) was chosen since fish effluents could be adequate to support its optimal growth. Wheatgrass was irrigated by water from African catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) production under two stocking densities, namely e...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | AgriEngineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/4/4/67 |
| _version_ | 1827642280925724672 |
|---|---|
| author | Lu Xu Christopher J. Ziethen Samuel Appelbaum Harry W. Palm Ulrich Knaus |
| author_facet | Lu Xu Christopher J. Ziethen Samuel Appelbaum Harry W. Palm Ulrich Knaus |
| author_sort | Lu Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present study, wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) was chosen since fish effluents could be adequate to support its optimal growth. Wheatgrass was irrigated by water from African catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) production under two stocking densities, namely extensive aquaculture unit (EAU) and intensive aquaculture unit (IAU), and tap water mixed with fertilizer (Control) in combination with three horticultural substrates: 100% coconut fibers (C), 70% coconut fibers + 30% perlite (CP), and 50% perlite + 50% vermiculite (PV) in an ebb-and-flow system. Different plant growth parameters, including nutrient contents, were evaluated and discussed. The results showed that regarding irrigation water, shoot dry mass was significantly higher in fish water groups. The root–shoot ratio was significantly higher in Control. The highest SPAD index was discovered in IAU. Regarding substrates, the root–shoot ratio was significantly low in C. Vitamin and mineral production reached mainly the highest concentrations in the combination of fish water with different substrates. In conclusion, irrigation water from IAU and coconut fibers were sufficient for optimal wheatgrass growth; meanwhile, IAU effluents showed a positive influence on vitamin production. Our study demonstrates the potential of aquaponics as a more sustainable way of producing superfoods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:26:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc2d89dd11e04bc5a10fac0548b35086 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-7402 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:26:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AgriEngineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc2d89dd11e04bc5a10fac0548b350862023-11-24T12:42:59ZengMDPI AGAgriEngineering2624-74022022-11-01441076109410.3390/agriengineering4040067Aquaponics Production of Wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) in Different Horticultural Substrates with African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) in Northern GermanyLu Xu0Christopher J. Ziethen1Samuel Appelbaum2Harry W. Palm3Ulrich Knaus4Department of Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, D-18059 Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, D-18059 Rostock, GermanyFrench Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion 8499000, IsraelDepartment of Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, D-18059 Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, D-18059 Rostock, GermanyIn the present study, wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) was chosen since fish effluents could be adequate to support its optimal growth. Wheatgrass was irrigated by water from African catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) production under two stocking densities, namely extensive aquaculture unit (EAU) and intensive aquaculture unit (IAU), and tap water mixed with fertilizer (Control) in combination with three horticultural substrates: 100% coconut fibers (C), 70% coconut fibers + 30% perlite (CP), and 50% perlite + 50% vermiculite (PV) in an ebb-and-flow system. Different plant growth parameters, including nutrient contents, were evaluated and discussed. The results showed that regarding irrigation water, shoot dry mass was significantly higher in fish water groups. The root–shoot ratio was significantly higher in Control. The highest SPAD index was discovered in IAU. Regarding substrates, the root–shoot ratio was significantly low in C. Vitamin and mineral production reached mainly the highest concentrations in the combination of fish water with different substrates. In conclusion, irrigation water from IAU and coconut fibers were sufficient for optimal wheatgrass growth; meanwhile, IAU effluents showed a positive influence on vitamin production. Our study demonstrates the potential of aquaponics as a more sustainable way of producing superfoods.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/4/4/67vitaminsplant nutrientsplant growthcoconut fibersperlitevermiculite |
| spellingShingle | Lu Xu Christopher J. Ziethen Samuel Appelbaum Harry W. Palm Ulrich Knaus Aquaponics Production of Wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) in Different Horticultural Substrates with African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) in Northern Germany AgriEngineering vitamins plant nutrients plant growth coconut fibers perlite vermiculite |
| title | Aquaponics Production of Wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) in Different Horticultural Substrates with African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) in Northern Germany |
| title_full | Aquaponics Production of Wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) in Different Horticultural Substrates with African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) in Northern Germany |
| title_fullStr | Aquaponics Production of Wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) in Different Horticultural Substrates with African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) in Northern Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aquaponics Production of Wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) in Different Horticultural Substrates with African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) in Northern Germany |
| title_short | Aquaponics Production of Wheatgrass (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) in Different Horticultural Substrates with African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) in Northern Germany |
| title_sort | aquaponics production of wheatgrass i triticum aestivum i l in different horticultural substrates with african catfish i clarias gariepinus i in northern germany |
| topic | vitamins plant nutrients plant growth coconut fibers perlite vermiculite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/4/4/67 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luxu aquaponicsproductionofwheatgrassitriticumaestivumilindifferenthorticulturalsubstrateswithafricancatfishiclariasgariepinusiinnortherngermany AT christopherjziethen aquaponicsproductionofwheatgrassitriticumaestivumilindifferenthorticulturalsubstrateswithafricancatfishiclariasgariepinusiinnortherngermany AT samuelappelbaum aquaponicsproductionofwheatgrassitriticumaestivumilindifferenthorticulturalsubstrateswithafricancatfishiclariasgariepinusiinnortherngermany AT harrywpalm aquaponicsproductionofwheatgrassitriticumaestivumilindifferenthorticulturalsubstrateswithafricancatfishiclariasgariepinusiinnortherngermany AT ulrichknaus aquaponicsproductionofwheatgrassitriticumaestivumilindifferenthorticulturalsubstrateswithafricancatfishiclariasgariepinusiinnortherngermany |