1. Aquaponics short-course at the University of Arizona
Kevin Fitzsimmons, Jason Licamele, Eric Highfield University of Arizona
6 April 2011

2. Trends in food markets Demand for more locally grown, organic foods
Increasing demand for vegetables and fish for health reasons
Need to increase economic and environmental efficiency (energy, water, land area, recycling of nutrients)

3. Global food crisis Rapidly increasing population
Diversion of foods to bio-fuels
Increased costs for water, fertilizer, fuel
Multiple demands for farmland (urban sprawl, industrial and mining, solar and wind generation, wildlife conservation, watershed protection, global warming, etc.)
Demand for locally produced food

4. Need new model for food production
Green Revolution – huge increase in food production, but heavy reliance on irrigation, fuel and fertilizer.
Blue Revolution – almost 50% of seafood is farm raised, but many environmental impacts (effluents causing eutrophication, algae blooms, cage and raft conflicts with other users in oceans, bays and lakes)

5. Development of hydroponics and aquaculture
Fast growing sectors of global food production
Hydroponics is more efficient use of water and nutrients, controls the environment and reduces use of pesticides and herbicides.
Aquaculture is more efficient production of domesticated aquatic animals and plants.

6. Past Projects The Land – Disney World, Florida
Biosphere 2 – Tucson, Arizona
High school education
Commercialization

7. Disney World – EPCOT – The Land
University of Arizona provided technical design, layout, and training of staff.
Selected hydroponics and aquaculture as two critical food production systems for the future.

8. Disney World – EPCOT – The Land
30,000 guests a day learn about hydroponics, aquaculture, tilapia, and advanced farming techniques
Products are served in the Good Turn Restaurant

9. Development trials for Biosphere 2
Biosphere 2 – A one hectare greenhouse. Completely sealed, with eight people living inside for two years.

10. Early trials for Biosphere 2
University of Arizona provided overall technical support and designed the food system.
Intensive food production
Healthy foods with minimal need for external inputs
Replicated trials with tilapia and lettuce

11. Various growing techniques
Growing in floating boards
Growing in gravel/biofilter

12. Density and micronutrient trials
Low density of fish
High density of fish

13. Nutrient film technique
Growing in troughs/gutters with flowing water

14. Nutrient film technique
Flood and drain version in troughs/gutters

15. Fish and grain crops
Tilapia and barley
Nutrient dynamics in recirc
Determined that integrated fish and irrigated crops were most efficient food production system for Biosphere 2

16. Educational systems in high schools
Fish instead of traditional farm animals
Hydroponic vegetables and ornamental flowers

17. Water chemistry pH Conductivity Dissolved solids Suspended solids
Oxygen

18. Carbon Cycle digestion and respiration + 3O2 Photosynthesis C6H12O6
6 H2O + 6 CO2
C6H12O6 + 3O2
sugars and other organics and oxygen
sugars and other organics
water and
carbon dioxide
anaerobes and methanogens
CH4 + COx

19. Carbonate Cycle CO2 + H2O H2CO3 H+ + HCO3- H+ + CO32-
carbon dioxide dissolved in water
carbonic acid
bicarbonate ion
carbonate ion

20. Carbonate cycle

21. Nitrogen Cycle
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
De-nitrification

22. Nitrogen cycle in aquatic systems

23. Nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen is often a limiting element in freshwater aquatic system
Adding nitrogen will cause rapid increase in primary productivity
Nitrogen in anaerobic sediments - denitrification (reduction to NH3 or N2 gas)

24. UAAQ CEAC Nitrogen Mass Flow
Introduced via feed
Input: 108 g nitrogen / day
Oxygen
Consumption
Fish
Plant root zone
Plant respiration
Generation
Plant photosynthesis
Microalgae / Phytoplankton photosynthesis

25. Phosphorus cycle Phosphorus and orthophosphate.
Organic P decomposes and releases PO4, taken up by algae and plants or adsorbs to clay particles and precipitates. Anaerobic conditions can re-release P to water.
Wetland Ecosystem Management

26. Tilapia and other fish Oreochromis species Catfish Koi
Yellow perch and bluegills
Sturgeon and ornamental fish

27. Fish feed as nutrient sources
Fish feed is the basic input for nutrients to fish and plants
Protein is source of nitrogen for plants
Phosphorus and potassium from fishmeal, bone meal, or feather meal
Micronutrients from vitamin and mineral premixes in fish feed

28. UAAQ CEAC Aquaponic Inputs
Water
Star Milling Co.
1/8” Floating Tilapia Feed
Dolomite 65 Ag
CaCO3 46.0%
MgCO3 38.5%
Ca 22.7%
Mg 11.8%
Biomins
Biomin Fe+ (5%)
Biomin Mn+ (5%)
Biomin Zn+ (7%)
Nutrient Content Analysis
Crude Protein
35%
Crude Fat 5%
Crude Fiber
3.5%
Ash 9%
FISH FEED % N
5.97 P
1.53 K
1.46 Ca
1.61 Mg
0.26 Na
0.24 S
0.46
mg/L Cu 15 Zn
143 Mn 93 Fe
461 B 18
Star Milling Company: Soybean meal, Wheat Bran, Anchovy meal; ground corn, fish oils, wheat flour………..vitamin supplements

29. Organic micronutrients
Biomins
Biomin Fe+ (5%)
Biomin Mn+ (5%)
Biomin Zn+ (7%)
Biomin Calcium is created using an encapsulation (chelating) of the mineral calcium with glycine and natural organic acids.
Biomin Z.I.M is a true amino acid chelated multi-mineral. The chelating agent is mainly glycine, the smallest amino acid commonly used by and found in plants.

30. System design For fish – tanks vs raceways For plants – variety
Gravel and sand beds
Floating rafts
Gutters and trays

31. Tilapia and lettuce

32. Lettuce Plant Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Butterhead variety
Quick turnover
5 weeks
Cultivars
Rex
Tom Thumb
Able to uptake and tolerate high levels of nitrogen
Grown in municipal waste water; primary, secondary vs nutrient solution control; grew in all but yield was lower than Nutrient Solution (Chow et al)
A good yield was obtained in the treatment EC=1.0 mS cm-1, with appropriate concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S and low level of nitrate, lower than the maximum allowed by the Commission of the European Communities.
Spray with foliar micronutrients to enhance growth
Pythium dissotocum, reported for the first time as a root pathogen of hydroponically grown lettuce, was responsible for significant yield reductions (35–54 and 12–17% reductions at 18 and 28 C, respectively) in the absence of visible root or foliar symptoms. The fungus was isolated from 92% of the rootlets assayed and occupied about 75% of the total root length assayed. Microscopic examination of infected roots revealed haustorialike fungal structures within healthy-appearing epidermal cells. P. dissotocum, in addition to P. uncinulatum, P. irregulare, P. sylvaticum, P. violae, P. catenulatum, and P. rostratum, was also consistently isolated from healthy-appearing feeder rootlets collected from field-grown head lettuce plants.
35-40% growth reductions
DFT – this project 6-8” deep; optimal 20-24” deep
PAR Net Photosynthetic Rate 20 umol CO2 m-2 s-1 Light Saturated at 350 umol m-2 s-1

33. Varieties of Romaine and Bibb

34. Data collection and analysis
Light measurements (PAR)
Computer monitoring

35. Nutrient Balance Nutrient Balance Feed Filtration Hydroponics
32% Protein
2-4% System Biomass
FCR 2:1
Filtration
Clarifier
Nitrification
Hydroponics
Nutrient uptake
Water
Water Chemistry
N, TAN, NH4, NO2, NO3, K, P, Ca, Fe, pH, alkalinity, T, EC

36. Aquaponic Inputs Nutrient Content Analysis Inputs: Water Fish Food
Star Milling Co.
1/8” Floating Tilapia Feed
Dolomite 65 Ag
CaCO3 46.0%
MgCO3 38.5%
Ca 22.7%
Mg 11.8%
Biomins
Biomin Fe+ (5%)
Biomin Mn+ (5%)
Biomin Zn+ (7%)
Crude Protein
32%
Crude Fat 5%
Crude Fiber
3.5%
Ash 9%
FISH FEED % N
5.97 P
1.53 K
1.46 Ca
1.61 Mg
0.26 Na
0.24 S
0.46
mg/L Cu 15 Zn
143 Mn 93 Fe
461 B 18
Star Milling Company: Soybean meal, Wheat Bran, Anchovy meal; ground corn, fish oils, wheat flour………..vitamin supplements

37. pH & Oxygen pH Range Tilapia 6.5-9 Diurnal pH Flux Dissolved Oxygen
Fish = 6.5 – 8.5
Plant = 5.0 – 7.5
Diurnal pH Flux
Reduce shifts to stabilize pH
Shifts can inhibit organism's physiology thus reducing growth
Acidic pH can effect solubility of Fertilizers
Alkalinity
Optimal: mg/L
Stabilizes pH ; provides nutrients for growth
Dissolved Oxygen
> 4 mg/l (ppm)

38. UAAQ CEAC Methodology Data Collection Fish : Lettuce Lettuce quality
Fish FCR
Fish Biomass (1 kg)
Plant Wet/Dry Weight
Plant Height/Diameter
Lettuce quality
Apogee CCM-200
Chlorophyll Concentration Index (CCI)
Relative chlorophyll value
Compare a cultivar of lettuce growing in different systems
CCI can be correlated to chlorophyll concentration with ground/solvent analysis
Measures in two ranges: Chlorophyll spectrum and outside wavelengths (900+) for reference due to mechanical differences such as tissue thickness
LED spectrum in and 900+

39. UAAQ CEAC Biomass Density
CEAC GH#3118
Tilapia Density
0.04 – 0.06 kg/L
2% Biomass / day
1.6 – 1.8 kg feed / day
Harvest weight 1kg
Lettuce
32 plants / m2
6” off center
Harvest head wet weight grams

40. UAAQ CEAC Water Chemistry
Nutrient Deficiency Succession
[ Fe+, Mn+, Mo+] <
[Ca+, Mg+]<
[Zn+]
Hydroponic Water Parameters pH
EC 1.5 – 2.0
DO 4-7mg/L
T = 23-25oC
Water Chemistry (mg/L)
CEAC Lettuce
GH#3118 Target
NITROGEN
Ammonia NH3-N
Nitrate NO3-N
180 50
Boron (B)
0.35
<1
Calcium (Ca)
200 60
Copper (Cu)
0.05
<0.05
Iron (Fe)
2.4 2
Magnesium (Mg) 40 20
Manganese (Mn)
0.55
0.5
Molybdenum (Mo)
PO4-P
Potassium (K)
198
150
Sulfate (SO4)-S 52
20< >100
Zinc (Zn)
0.34
0.3
Biomin Calcium is created using an encapsulation (chelating) of the mineral calcium with glycine and natural organic acids.
Biomin Z.I.M is a true amino acid chelated multi
mineral. The chelating agent is mainly glycine, the
smallest amino acid commonly used by and found in
plants.
(Chelated Products)

41. Data and video live on Internet http://ag. arizona

42. UAAQ CEAC Environmental Data
Set Points:
Hydroponic Treatment
Day Tair = oC
Night Tair = oC
TH2O = oC
pH =
DO = mg/L
Exp.3
Exp.2
Exp.1
UAAQ 2009 Water Parameters Exp. 1
Mean Water Temperature
24.29oC pH
6.75
Dissolved Oxygen
5.89 mg/L
Electrical Conductivity
0.97 dS/cm
Month (Julian Day) Ave. Daily Ave. Daily Month (Julian Day) Ave. Daily Ave. Daily
moles m-2 Std. Dev. moles m-2 Std. Dev.
January (1 – 31)
February ( )
March ( )
April ( )
May ( )
June ( )
July ( )
August ( )
September ( )
October ( )
November ( )
December ( )
Table 2. Average Daily PAR (moles m-2 ) for Each Season in Tucson, Arizona.
Season and Julian Day Average Moles per Day
Winter, December 22 to March 21 ( ) 30.3
Spring, March 22 to June 21 ( ) 55.9
Summer, June 22 to September 21 ( ) 50.1
Fall, September 22 to December 21 ( ) 31.8
Winter Tomato Production, October through March (274 – 90) 31.4
UAAQ 2009 Environmental Data Exp. 2
Mean Daily PAR
19.33 moles/m2
Total PAR Exp.2
moles/m2
Mean Night Ta
17.14oC
Mean Day Ta
21.56oC
Daily Mean Ta
19.35oC
Daily Mean RH%
60.85%
UAAQ 2009 Environmental Data Exp. 1
Mean Daily PAR
16.60 moles/m2
Total PAR Exp.2
moles/m2
Mean Night Ta
17.09oC
Mean Day Ta
21.19oC
Daily Mean Ta
19.14oC
Daily Mean RH%
59.47%
UAAQ 2009 Water Parameters Exp. 2
Mean Water Temperature
24.22oC pH
6.73
Dissolved Oxygen
6.74 mg/L
Electrical Conductivity
0.93 dS/cm

43. UAAQ CEAC Nitrogen Mass Flow
Fish Feed
% N = 5.97
1800 grams/day
107 grams nitrogen/day
Sludge
N = 3.38% per g dry weight
5 Liters day produced
Collect dry weight / day
Fish
27% nitrogen retention
Lettuce
Samples to be analyzed
Water
40-60 mg/L Nitrate
Exp.3
Exp.2
Exp.1

44. UAAQ CEAC Water Chemistry
Macronutrients
Accumulation reaching steady state
Calcium and magnesium supplementation
Experiments 2-8
Micronutrients
Biomin Iron supplementation
Experiment s 4-8
Biomin Zinc supplementation
Experiments 5-8
Biomin Manganese supplementation
Experiments 6-8
Exp.3
Exp.2
Exp.1
Exp.3
Exp.2
Exp.1

45. UAAQ Exp. 2 Aquaponics vs. Hydroponics
Hydroponic Solution
Nitrogen uptake
Experiment 2 Data
40-60 mg/L NO3-N
10-20 mg/L P
100+ mg/L K

46. Arizona Aquaculture Website ag.arizona.edu/azaqua

47. What’s needed next? Investment in production and more research
Best technologies of ag and aquaculture
Limited governmental regulation
Trained production staff and semi-skilled farming staff