Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany.
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Division Biosystems Engineering, Berlin, Germany.
PLoS One. 2019 Jun 20;14(6):e0218368. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218368. eCollection 2019.
Decoupled aquaponic systems have the potential to become one of the most effective sustainable production systems for the combined production of animal protein and plant crops. Here, recirculating aquaculture systems for fish production are combined with hydroponics for soilless plant production thereby recycling dissolved nutrients derived from metabolism of the fish. The aim of the present study was to characterize hydroponic lettuce production using conventional nutrient solution in comparison with decoupled aquaponics using the nutrient rich fish water as basis for the nutrient solution being supplemented by missing nutrients. In addition, one aquaponic treatment became disinfected in order to assess any occurring advantage of the aquaponics derived fish water. For evaluation the temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, and the mineral composition of the nutrient solution, as well as colony forming units in the fish water were monitored. Additionally, plant growth (fresh and dry weight, number and area of leaves) and quality parameters of lettuce leaves (nitrate, mineral content, phenolic compounds) were examined. Carbon sources and microorganisms derived from fish water seem to have neither beneficial nor detrimental effects on plant growth in this study. Except for some differences in the mineral content of the lettuce leaves, all other quality parameters were not significantly different. The use of aquaponic fish water saved 62.8% mineral fertilizer and fully substituted the required water for the nutrient solution in comparison to the control. Additionally, the reduced fertilizer demand using decoupled aquaponics can contribute to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of an annual lettuce production site per ha by 72% due to saving the energy for fertilizer production. This study clearly demonstrates the huge potential of the innovative approach of decoupled aquaponics to foster the transformation of our conventional agriculture towards sustainable production systems saving resources and minimizing emissions.
解耦水培系统有可能成为最有效的可持续生产系统之一，用于动物蛋白和植物作物的联合生产。在这里，循环水产养殖系统用于鱼类生产，与无土植物生产的水培相结合，从而回收鱼类代谢产生的溶解养分。本研究的目的是用常规营养液来描述生菜的水培生产，与使用富营养鱼水作为营养液基础的解耦水培系统进行比较，营养液通过补充缺失的养分来实现。此外，为了评估水培系统中鱼水带来的任何优势，一个水培处理被消毒。为了评估营养液的温度、电导率、pH 值和矿物质组成，以及鱼水中的菌落形成单位，监测了这些参数。此外，还检查了生菜的生长（鲜重和干重、叶片数量和面积）和叶片的质量参数（硝酸盐、矿物质含量、酚类化合物）。在本研究中，来自鱼水的碳源和微生物似乎对植物生长既没有有益的影响，也没有有害的影响。除了生菜叶片矿物质含量的一些差异外，其他所有质量参数均无显著差异。与对照相比，使用水培鱼水可节省 62.8%的矿物肥料，并完全替代了营养液所需的水。此外，由于节省了肥料生产所需的能源，解耦水培系统减少肥料需求可以有助于将每年生菜生产场地的温室气体排放量减少 72%。本研究清楚地表明，解耦水培这种创新方法具有巨大的潜力，可以促进我们传统农业向节约资源和减少排放的可持续生产系统的转变。
