Plants and aquaponics

Plant cultivation in aquaponics

Hydroponics, which means soilless, cultivation is a proven method that has long been used for fruiting vegetables, leafy greens, and herbs. Instead of soil, inert, chemically stable, substrates are used to support the plants and retain the nutrient solution.

Hydroponics in aquaponics

The main difference lies in the type of fertilizer: Classic hydroponics uses precisely formulated mineral fertilizers. In aquaponics, the organic fertilizer comes from waste products of the fish plus microbiology. Nutrient concentrations regulate themselves thanks to natural processes, and micronutrient deficiencies can be remedied with natural supplements.

Innenansicht eines Foliengewächshauses: DWC-Becken, Growbeds und Aquakultur in Kombination.
View into a polytunnel

Pest control without pesticides

Aquaponics eliminates the need for chemical pest control. Instead, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is used, which uses beneficial organisms as natural enemies of pests, thus protecting plants in an environmentally friendly way.


Suitable plants

Almost all plant species can be grown hydroponically. Exceptions exist, especially for plants whose cultivation is not economically viable. Potatoes, for example, require stable support for their tubers, which makes hydroponic systems complex and unprofitable. Growing grains is also possible, but not profitable due to the low yields per acre. The same applies to typical arable crops such as corn and fodder beet, whose high space requirements combined with low yields make hydroponic cultivation uneconomical.

Blick ins Gewächshaus: Basilikumkultur auf Rolltischen unter kontrollierten Anbaubedingungen.
Pot culture on movable cultivation tables (rolling tables)
Ebbe-Flut-Growbed unbesetzt: Substratbasierte Kultivierung im Aquaponik-System.
Growbeds in the aquaponics system

Diversified cultivation in aquaponics

A major advantage of aquaponics is the ability to grow many different plant species hydroponically in parallel. While traditional hydroponic systems often only allow for a few crops to grow simultaneously, aquaponics permits greater diversity in cultivation. This opens up new possibilities for the system operator regarding target groups and markets for the produce.

Customers from the catering industry, in particular, can benefit from this variety. In addition to the freshness and quality of the products, they also value the opportunity to express individual preferences. This allows aquaponics operators to coordinate cultivation with their customers and precisely target the desired
crops.

 

Verschiedene Salatsorten (Lollo Rosso und Lollo Bianco) auf einem DWC-Beet im Aquaponik-System.
Lettuce in the DWC bed
Blick auf die DWC-Becken, gebaut aus Beton-Randsteinen, mit Teichfolie abgedichtet.
Deep Water Culture im Foliengewächshaus
Ebbe-Flut-Growbed mit Petersilie und Pfefferminze: Substratbasierte Kultivierung im Aquaponik-System.
Growbed besetzt mit Petersilie und Minze

 


Aquaponics cultivation methods:

Deep Water Culture (DWC)

Schematische Darstellung eines DWC-Beckens (Deep Water Culture) im Aquaponik-System.
Deep Water Culture (DWC) is particularly suitable for lettuce, leafy vegetables, and herbs. The plants are grown on rafts with holes through which the roots extend into the nutrient solution.

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

Schematische Darstellung einer NFT-Rinne (Nutrient Film Technique) in einem Aquaponik-System.
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) is used for fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, often combined with trellis systems. Leafy vegetables and herbs can also be cultivated in NFT systems.

Self-watering pots

Selbstbewässernde Töpfe im Gewächshaus: Effiziente Wassernutzung hier für Chili-Pflanzen.
Self-watering pots are particularly suitable for larger plants like peppers or chilies. The pots automatically provide the right amount of water, are low-maintenance, and portable, allowing for flexible plant spacing.

Ebb and flow systems

use substrates (e.g., gravel) in which the plants root. The water level constantly rises and falls, ensuring optimal oxygen supply to the roots. Typical ebb-flow systems are:

Growbeds

Schematische Darstellung eines Media Beds mit Auto-Siphon in einem Aquaponik-System.
Growbeds are beds filled with gravel or expanded clay that can be used flexibly. They are suitable for root vegetables such as radishes, ginger, and carrots, but also for leafy vegetables, fruit vegetables, and herbs.

Rolling tables for pot cultures

Schematische Darstellung von Ebbe-Flut-Rolltischen für die Hydroponik.
Rolling tables for pot cultures (growing tables) provide space for plants in pots with substrates such as coconut fiber. One advantage is that the plants can be sold ready for market while still in the pot. The disadvantages are the substrate consumption and the loss of nutrient solution.

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