TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus L.) AND TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum L.) GROWTH IN AN OPEN AQUAPONICS SYSTEM

Abstract

Aquaponics represents a sustainable alternative for the human diet, since it makes a more efficient use of resources like water, fertilizers, and also reduces environmental pollution. In the world there are important advances in this area and its study and application has begun in Mexico. In this study, an open aquaponics system was characterized, for the production of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Saladette and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) var. Spring, where agronomic and aquatic variables were measured. Nine treatments were assessed, which consisted of the combination of three substrates [1) compost; 2) compost and tezontle in a 1:1 proportion (v:v), respectively; and 3) tezontle], and three types of irrigation water [1) tap water; 2) tap water and aquaponics water in 1:1 (v:v) relation, respectively; and 3) aquaponics water]. The results show that the growth of tilapia was slow, although the survival was high (96%). The highest growth of tomato plants occurred in compost, irrigated with water from fish culture; which is attributed to it functioning as a complement to plant nutrition. This study confirms the viability of establishing small-scale aquaponics systems at a low cost that allow making a more efficient use of aquaculture inputs, reducing negative impacts on the environment