i AQUAPONICS AND HYDROPONICS

141 Pages·2013·2.69 MB·English

AQUAPONICS AND HYDROPONICS: THE EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT SOURCE AND
HYDROPONIC SUBSYSTEM DESIGN ON SWEET BASIL PRODUCTION

by

Ryan K. Dunwoody

An Abstract
of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science
in the Department of Biology and Agriculture
University of Central Missouri

November, 2013

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ABSTRACT

by

Ryan K. Dunwoody

Development and practice of sustainable agriculture is one approach to help offset
escalating environmental and production crises. Aquaponics is an emerging sustainable
agriculture system that amalgamates aquaculture and hydroponics. This research compared sweet
basil (Ocimum basilicum L. Nufar), yield within six constant flow recirculating systems. Two
hydroponic subsystem designs, media filled and deep water culture, were employed. Independent
nutrient sources consisted of General Hydroponics® Flora Series, or metabolic wastes of live
channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) during respective trials. Weekly water quality and
macronutrient assessments were recorded. Sweet basil fresh leaf mass (kg) (FLM), yield (leaf)
(kg/0.6027 m2), total yield of vegetative (non-root) biomass (kg) (TVB), plant height (cm), and
absolute growth rate (cm/day) (AGR) data was analyzed following each trial. For overall
combined media filled and DWC aquaponic and hydroponic systems, FLM, yield, TVB, height,
and AGR were significantly higher during the hydroponic trial (p=<0.001). Furthermore, there
were significant differences in basil production between aquaponic and hydroponic media and
DWC hydroponic subsystems (p<0.05). Additionally, there was no significant difference
between aquaponic and hydroponic DWC hydroponic subsystems for FLM, yield, and TVB
(p>0.05). Lastly, analysis revealed significant differences between water quality and
macronutrient parameters, except for temperature (°C), D.O. (ppm), and PO 3- (ppm).
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ii
AQUAPONICS AND HYDROPONICS: THE EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT SOURCE AND
HYDROPONIC SUBSYSTEM DESIGN ON SWEET BASIL PRODUCTION

by

Ryan K. Dunwoody

A Thesis
presented in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science
in the Department of Biology and Agriculture
University of Central Missouri

November, 2013

iii
© 2013

Ryan K. Dunwoody

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

iv
AQUAPONICS AND HYDROPONICS: THE EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT SOURCE AND
HYDROPONIC SUBSYSTEM DESIGN ON SWEET BASIL PRODUCTION

by

Ryan K. Dunwoody

November, 2013

APPROVED:

Thesis Chair: Dr. Stefan Cairns

Thesis Committee Member: Dr. Scott Lankford

Thesis Committee Member: Dr. Mark Goodwin

ACCEPTED:

Chair, Department of Biology and Agriculture: Dr. Fanson Kidwaro

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI
WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and most importantly I would like to thank my academic advisors: Dr. Stefan
Cairns (principle Investigator), Dr. Scott Lankford (committee member), and Dr. Mark Goodwin
(committee member) for all of their knowledge, help, and support provided to me throughout my
academic career.
Secondly, I would like to thank the University of Central Missouri for the SHCUR1
Level II Internal Grant that was awarded to Dr. Cairns that supported my research. Without these
funds, this research would not have been possible. Furthermore, I would like to thank General
Hydroponics for their generous donation of General Hydroponic® Flora Series.
Additionally, I would like to thank the Missouri Department of Conservation Chesapeake
Fish Hatchery for donating their quality channel catfish fingerlings, and the Clinton office for
loaning their fish transport equipment. Moreover, I would like to thank GreenCircle Hydroponics
for their supply of hydroponic materials for my study.
Subsequently, I would like to thank my peers and UCM Biology support staff; Messrs.
Daniel Metcalf, David Penning, Travis Lyon, Geoffrey Vincent, Alex Prentice, John Platt,
Jordan Smith, John Lisek, and Ms. Glenda Carmack for all of the help and contributions with the
research. In addition, I would like to give a special thanks to my research assistant Mr. Jared
Kelly for his hard work and devotion to this study.
Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for all of their love and support.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix
LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x
LIST OF PLATES ........................................................................................................... xiii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1
CHAPTER 2: MATERIALS AND METHODS ...............................................................22
CHAPTER 3: RESULTS ...................................................................................................32
CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION .............................................................................................46
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION ..........................................................................................71
CHAPTER 6: LITERATURE CITED ...............................................................................74
APPENDICIES
A. Aquaponic Sweet Basil Growth .............................................................................81
B. Hydroponic Sweet Basil Growth ...........................................................................82
C. General Hydroponics® Flora Series Expert Recirculating Feeding Schedule ......83
D. General Hydroponics® Flora Series Feeding Schedule Utilized During
Hydroponic Trial ...................................................................................................84
E. Aquaponic Trial Data .............................................................................................85
F. Aquaponic and Hydroponic Foot Candle Data ......................................................99
G. Hydroponic Trial Data .........................................................................................100
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Page
H. Note : Aquaponics and Tilapia ............................................................................112
I. IACUC Approval .................................................................................................114

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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page

1.1 Mean water quality parameters sampled five times (15-Jan, 23-Jan, 31-Jan,
8-Feb, and 16-Feb) during the aquaponic trial .............................................................39
1.2 Mean water quality parameters sampled five times (17-Apr, 25-Apr, 3-May,
11-May, and 19-May) during the hydroponic trial ......................................................45

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page

2.1 Aerial view of system design and orientation, as well as plant schematics .................24
2.2 Lateral view of one system design ...............................................................................26
2.3 Aerial view of one system design ................................................................................25
2.4 Mean ( SE) channel catfish weight (kg) for media filled and DWC
aquaponic systems .......................................................................................................32

2.5 Mean ( SE) channel catfish SGR (kg) for media filled and DWC
aquaponic systems .......................................................................................................33

2.6 Mean ( SE) aquaponic basil FLM (kg) for media filled and DWC
hydroponic subsystems ................................................................................................34

2.7 Mean ( SE) aquaponic basil yield (kg/0.6027 m2) for media filled
and DWC hydroponic subsystems ...............................................................................35

2.8 Mean ( SE) aquaponic basil TVB (kg) for media filled and DWC
hydroponic subsystems ................................................................................................36

2.9 Mean ( SE) aquaponic basil height (cm) for media filled
and DWC hydroponic subsystems ...............................................................................37

2.10 Mean ( SE) aquaponic basil AGR (cm/day) for media filled
and DWC hydroponic subsystems .............................................................................38

2.11 Mean ( SE) hydroponic basil FLM (kg) for media filled
and DWC hydroponic subsystems .............................................................................40

2.12 Mean ( SE) hydroponic basil yield (kg/0.6027 m2) for
media filled and DWC hydroponic subsystems ........................................................41

2.13 Mean ( SE) hydroponic basil TVB (kg) for media filled
and DWC hydroponic subsystems .............................................................................42

2.14 Mean ( SE) hydroponic basil height (cm) for media filled
and DWC hydroponic subsystems .............................................................................43

2.15 Mean ( SE) hydroponic basil AGR (cm/day) for media filled
and hydroponic subsystems .......................................................................................44

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