In recent years, aquaculture productivity of Pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) has been improved and agricultural farming of Pak-choi (Brassica rapa var chinensis) is preferred due to short production time, low production cost and adaptation to climate change-induced stresses. Research conducted so far indicates that pangasius represents a good candidate for aquaponics, however, it has not yet been commercially developed in aquaponics integrated with Pak choi. To mitigate climate change-induced abiotic stresses, there is a need to develop an aquaponics system by integrating Pangasius and Pak-choi for commercial exploitation. An experiment of 90 days was conducted to evaluate the effect of different fish: plant stocking ratios on nitrogen dynamics, nutrient removal efficiency, and biomass production in a media bed aquaponics system. Pangasius (6.95±0.56 g) and pak choi (2.12±0.044 g) were grown at six varying fish: plant stocking ratios; 40:10 (T1), 45:10 (T2), 50: 10 (T3), 55:10 (T4), 60:10 (T5) and 65:10 (T6) in three replications. Wastewater from the fish tank was pumped to the plant grow bed by an automatic timer-controlled submersible pump. Fish were fed with (32% crude protein) feed at 2% body weight twice a day. Nitrate (NO3--N) increased with time, contrary to ammonia and nitrite. Fish biomass affected nitrogen transformation patterns by producing more waste which resulted increased amount of nitrate. Significantly high pak choi final weights were observed in T4 and T5, and lower weights in T1 and T6. Growth and feed utilization of Pangasius (P. hypophthalmus) decreased with increasing stocking density. Specific growth rate (SGR) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T2 (2.65±0.06 day-1), T1 (2.52±0.19 day-1) and T3 (2.45±0.15 day-1) and lower in T6 (1.71±0.04 day-1). Weight gain (%) was significantly high (P<0.05) in T2 (982.53±64.50%), T1 (88159±169.61%) and T3 (808.91+117.95%) but low in T6 (364.22±16.46%). Survival rate (%) was high (P<0.05) in T3 (97.00±1.00%), T2 (95.56±2.23%) and T1 (96.25±1.25%). The experiment revealed that pangasius and pak choi can be farmed at a ratio of 50:10 (Fish: Plant) in the media bed aquaponic system and gave optimum production and survival.

Study on effect of fish/plant ratios on nitrogen transformation and biomass production in media-bed Aquaponics system using pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and pak choi (Brassica rapa var chinensis)

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年7月22日

查看全文

John Miyekelo Daudi,
Kishore Kumar Krishnani,
Kiran Dube Rawat,
M. H. Chandrakant,
Thongam Ibemcha Chanu,
Ajit Kumar Verma,
Sanjay Kumar Gupta,
Narinder Kumar Chadha

摘要

In recent years, aquaculture productivity of Pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) has been improved and agricultural farming of Pak-choi (Brassica rapa var chinensis) is preferred due to short production time, low production cost and adaptation to climate change-induced stresses. Research conducted so far indicates that pangasius represents a good candidate for aquaponics, however, it has not yet been commercially developed in aquaponics integrated with Pak choi. To mitigate climate change-induced abiotic stresses, there is a need to develop an aquaponics system by integrating Pangasius and Pak-choi for commercial exploitation. An experiment of 90 days was conducted to evaluate the effect of different fish: plant stocking ratios on nitrogen dynamics, nutrient removal efficiency, and biomass production in a media bed aquaponics system. Pangasius (6.95±0.56 g) and pak choi (2.12±0.044 g) were grown at six varying fish: plant stocking ratios; 40:10 (T₁), 45:10 (T₂), 50: 10 (T₃), 55:10 (T₄), 60:10 (T₅) and 65:10 (T₆) in three replications. Wastewater from the fish tank was pumped to the plant grow bed by an automatic timer-controlled submersible pump. Fish were fed with (32% crude protein) feed at 2% body weight twice a day. Nitrate (NO₃^--N) increased with time, contrary to ammonia and nitrite. Fish biomass affected nitrogen transformation patterns by producing more waste which resulted increased amount of nitrate. Significantly high pak choi final weights were observed in T₄ and T₅, and lower weights in T₁ and T₆. Growth and feed utilization of Pangasius (P. hypophthalmus) decreased with increasing stocking density. Specific growth rate (SGR) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T₂ (2.65±0.06 day^-1), T₁ (2.52±0.19 day^-1) and T₃ (2.45±0.15 day^-1) and lower in T₆ (1.71±0.04 day^-1). Weight gain (%) was significantly high (P<0.05) in T₂ (982.53±64.50%), T₁ (88159±169.61%) and T₃ (808.91+117.95%) but low in T₆ (364.22±16.46%). Survival rate (%) was high (P<0.05) in T₃ (97.00±1.00%), T₂ (95.56±2.23%) and T₁ (96.25±1.25%). The experiment revealed that pangasius and pak choi can be farmed at a ratio of 50:10 (Fish: Plant) in the media bed aquaponic system and gave optimum production and survival.