A protocol to develop a nutrient dynamics model for aquaponics systems through a mass balance analysis

• Grant number: 17/14269-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Brunno da Silva Cerozi
• Grantee: Brunno da Silva Cerozi
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: José Eurico Possebon Cyrino
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/03916-5 - Formulation of versatile diets to adjust the N: P: K ratio in aquaponic nutrient solutions: performance and health of Nile tilapia juveniles, and quality and quantity of lettuce biomass production, BP.IC; 22/03838-4 - Model application of integrated Nile tilapia production with hydroponic lettuce production to commercial aquaponics systems, BP.IC; 21/00936-2 - Formulation of versatile diets to adjust the N: P: K ratio in aquaponic nutrient solutions: performance and health of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles, and quality and quantity of lettuce biomass production, BP.MS; + associated scholarships 20/07234-0 - Validation of nutrient dynamics models in aquaponic systems through a mass balance analysis, BP.IC; 19/09472-9 - A protocol to develop a nutrient dynamics model for aquaponics systems through a mass balance analysis, BP.IC; 18/25683-7 - A protocol to develop a nutrient dynamics model for aquaponics systems through a mass balance analysis, BP.JP - associated scholarships

Abstract

Aquaponics is a new industry that has been developed with great potential worldwide. This relatively new food production system is a combination of fish and vegetable production in a closed-loop recirculating water system. Aquaponics eliminates the need of constantly adding chemical fertilizers to grow plants hydroponically since the system uses highly nutritious effluent produced by fish, which contains almost all nutrients required for optimum plant growth. At the same time, instead of wasting water loaded with fish waste, aquaponics uses plants to clean and purify the water, which is then returned to Aquaculture tanks. Therefore, water can be reused indefinitely and is only replenished to compensate for evapotranspiration losses. This is an environmentally sustainable technology that can generate several value-added products near large urban areas, because the systems can be even established in water-constrained regions. Thus, the objective of this project is to develop a new procedure for determining nutrient release coefficients in aquaponics systems through mass balance analysis using production of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus integrated with hydroponic lettuce. Ultimately, coefficients and models will be used to design a pilot project of a commercial aquaponics operation at small and medium scales. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CEROZI, BRUNNO DA SILVA; DE OLIVEIRA NETO, JOSUE WENCESLAU; RIBEIRO CARDEAL DIAS LEONEL, ROGER ABRAAO; DO CARMO ALVES, ANGELICA PRISCILA. Nutrient release coefficient: a proposed batch reactor assay to determine the elemental composition of aquaponic nutrient solutions. AQUACULTURE INTERNATIONAL, v. 30, n. 2, p. 12-pg., 2022-01-16. (17/14269-2)