The Growing Method of E-Farm Uses: Aquaponic

The Growing Method of E-Farm Uses: Aquaponic

Why do Aquaponic use fish instead of chemical fertisers?

Aquaponics is an alternative farming method that replicates a natural ecosystem. Aquaponics means a plant-fish combination, and the phrase is derived from the keywords aquaculture (the cultivation of fish in a confined environment) and hydroponics (the growth of crops without using any soil).  

It emphasises the connection that exists between water, aquatic life, bacteria, nutrient dynamics, and plants in waters across the globe. Thus, it is the appropriate solution to a fish farmer’s issues of nutrient-rich water disposal and a hydroponic farmer’s demand for nutrient-rich water. Aquaponics, in essence, combines the benefits of all growing processes, reusing one element’s waste to help another.

How does the process work?

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Aquaponics is a production method that incorporates aquaculture and hydroponics. In summary, the food being fed to the fish serves as the system’s input. When fish consume and digest this food, they produce faecal matter, which are both high in ammonia and could be hazardous to plants and fish in large numbers. Following that, the water (presently ammonia-rich) passes from the fish tank into a filtration system, along with un-eaten food and decomposing plant materials. Bacteria then break everything apart within the filtration system into organic nutrient solutions (nitrogen-rich) for cultivating vegetation.

Aquaponics is a very effective way of farming food that consumes almost no water, land, and wastage, yielding natural, healthy fish and vegetables.

What benefits does it have?

As cited by Thorarinsdottir“This is an environmentally friendly, natural food-growing method that harnesses the best attributes of aquaculture and hydroponics without the need to discard any water or filtrate or add chemical fertilizers.”

Unlike other agricultural system, aquaponics enables someone to grow produce year-round by controlling the temperature based on what they are planting. When contrasted to standard farming, one of the primary advantages of aquaponic cultivation is the reduced amount of water wasted. Despite its name with the use of ‘water,’ it utilises around 90% less water than conventional agriculture. As the water is recycled throughout the system, it is rarely replaced or disposed. Weeding is also minimal since there is no soil used with aquaponics, hence there are very few weeds.

Plants develop quicker in an aquaponic system as they have exposure to 100% natural nutrients 24 hours a day. Aquaponics cultivation does not necessitate the use of fertile farmland. Aquaponics may be successfully accomplished on any type of ground, including concrete, gravel, and rough terrain, which are hard to apply in traditional farming. Food security and independence are achieved, creating a more self-sufficient way of growing food.

Check out our E-Farm vegetables that are grown organically and locally in our aquaponics farm! Get yourself nutritious and yummy vegetables without any pesticides or chemicals.

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