1. Effect of Aquaponics system on yield of Polyhouse
cucumber (Multistar Variety)
Ranajeet Shanbhag, Vigyan Ashram, Pabal Dist.Pune , e-mail : Ranajeetpallavi@gmail.com
Abstract:
A Vigyan ashram, in India, is exploring aquaponics agriculture in Indian conditions mainly to increase
productivity of agriculture per unit area of land with less water. An experimental study was conducted
to study “Effect of Aquaponics on polyhouse cucumber cultivation” during Feb - May 2013 in Vigyan
ashram, Pabal. Trial showed that aquaponics treatment produced 18.25 %, more yield over control
treatment. This was observed that aquaponics treatment produced higher average number of fruits per
plant as compare to control plot. Fish growth in the system was satisfactory with 25 gm weight gain per
month. This experiment showed the potential of aquaponics system in India. It also brings out some
more research issues viz selection of proper soil media in aquaponics, meeting nutrient deficiency from
organic source, deciding water flow rate for different crops etc that need to work on.
Key words: Aquponics , polyhouse cultivation, Ammonia(NH4) , Nitrite(NO2) , Nitrate(NO3).
Introduction:
Aquaponics is, farming technique in which water from aquaculture is used to grow crops and extra
water returns back to the fish tank. When this water circulated near root zone, nitrogen fixing bacteria
(manly nitrosomonas and nitrobactor) convert ammonia (NH4) into nitrite (NO2) and then to nitrate
(NO3) form. By these, plants get nutrients as fertilizer and nitrates been less toxic to fish; fish grows
better than normal aqua farming. By this integration of fish farming and agriculture, one can get
maximum output.
Aquaponics cycle.

2. Research conducted at University of Florida showed that cucumber crop can be successfully adopted
with aquaponics system. This is estimated that 45.300 Kg (100 pound) of fish will produce sufficient
nitrogen for 4050 lettuce or 540 tomato plants when they are fed with 3 % of their body weight.
(Richard Tysno, University of Florida – 2013).
Vigyan ashram has done several experiment trials on terrace garden by coupling it with aquarium
system on small scale (Photo attached) in 2011-12 (www.wordpress.com/vigyanashram ). These trials
showed that vegetable like spinach, tomatos, brinjal (egg plant), and vine crops can be successfully
grown in aquaponics system under Indian conditions in per unit area with less expenses on plant
nutrients.
Aquaponics terrace gardening model
Farmers in Maharashtra state are constructing farm tank to store rain water, therefore it is thought of
installing an integrated model of farm tank and polyhouse farming.
Objective of study:
1. To test feasibility of aquaponics (fish + crop production) in farm tank and polyhouse farming.
2. To compare performance of crop of aquaponics system with control crop.
Problem and Innovation:
Vigyan ashram has farm tank of 40 lac lit capacity (55*30*5 meter) , lined with plastic paper to prevent
percolation of water. This is estimated that there are more than 35000 such farm tanks in Maharashtra
state so far. Rain water or excess water from water source is generally filled in such farm tanks and can
be used for agriculture purpose, in water deficient period. Following are few problems with such farm
tanks as –


It requires large area so land under farm tanks cannot be used for agriculture purpose. For
small famers this is major loss, as big part of their land become unproductive.
As these farm tanks are lined with plastic paper, ammonia (NH4) and other salts contents in
water increases, which limits fish farming with normal aquaculture system.
It is thought that fish can be grown in to such farm tanks in combination with aquaponics system. To
reduce ammonia generated in farm tank, water is supplied to crops in polyhouse. The excess water is

3. again collected and returned to farm tank. Crop growing beds in polyhouse system will convert
ammonia in to nitrite / nitrate and therefore water in the farm tank remains suitable for fish farming.
Experiment:
Experiment was designed with 2 set of treatments as aquaponics plot and control plot. For aquaponics
treatment plants were supplied water from plastic paper lined farm tank of approximately 90000 lit (3190.00
Ft3) capacity and containing 12 Kg of fish. This water was pumped from fish tank and after filtration (disc
filter) given to planting bed through in-line drip system. Excess water from aquaponics beds was collected
through drainage line fixed to each bed and sent back to fish tank. Whereas for control treatment normal
water (without fish), was supplied separately.
Cucumber seedlings (Multistar Variety) were planted in 22 * 12 M polyhouse at spacing of 2 * 1 ft. Seedlings
planted in plastic beds (troughs) with drainage facility. As growing media soil and FYM combination was used
@ 3:1 ratio. In the past, researcher tried different variety of fish like Rohu ( Labeo rohita) , Mrigal carp
(Cirrhinus mrigala), Pangasius Hypothalamus in aquaponics. By trial & error method, Pangasius breed of fish
was found most suitable for aquaponics. Therefore it is decided to use the same in this experiment. Fish was
regularly fed with fish feed with 32 % protein (Approx) @ 2 % of their weight. Apart from initially applied
FYM, plants were not given any organic / in-organic fertilizers. Water & soil analysis was done periodically for
testing Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and Dissolved oxygen levels etc.
Diagram - Experimental design - aquaponics

4. Results and Discussion:
Cucumber yield:
Aquaponics treatment showed beneficial effect on vegetative growth and total yield of cucumber crop as
compare to control treatment. Total number of cucumbers per plant and total yield per plant was
significantly more in aquaponics treatment than control. Table 1 revealed that total yield of aquaponics
treatment was 177.20 Kg as compare to 149.84 Kg of control treatment, which was 18.25 % more than
control. This was also found that, initial vegetative growth, number of flowers were at par in aquaponics and
control treatment but in latter stages control treatment yield reduced with higher percentage of mortality
(Graph I).
Table 1: Yield of cucumber for Aquaponics and control treatment
Harvesting kg /row
Date
21.03.13
27.03.13
30.03.13
7.04.13
11.04.13
Row's
17.04.13
21.04.13
28.04.13
8.05.13
18.05.13
27.05.13
Total
Aquaponics
A
3.12
5.072
0.595
2.52
2.136
1.236
4.592
2.098
0.826
0.902
5.072
28.169
B
1.933
5.678
2.671
3.826
0.853
4.707
1.078
3.95
1.449
0.664
5.678
32.487
C
0.66
4.184
2.034
4.227
0.558
5.236
4.47
3.256
1.983
1.991
4.184
32.783
D
1.215
4.845
2.08
2.741
1.497
4.347
2.248
3.188
0.706
2.34
4.845
30.052
E
0.631
4.991
3.241
2.761
1.718
4.973
1.678
2.848
1.656
2.258
4.991
31.746
F
0.763
4.872
3.444
2.688
2.882
3.691
3.046
1.856
1.987
2.981
4.872
33.082
G
0.795
5.602
3.959
4.662
3.364
2.92
3.8
1.682
2.87
1.106
5.602
36.362
Total
9.12
35.24
18.02
23.43
13.01
27.11
20.91
18.88
11.48
12.24
35.24
177.20
Control
H
1.207
4.105
4.536
4.798
2.251
3.418
2.735
1.354
0.645
0.236
4.105
29.39
I
1.192
4.088
2.262
2.585
4.147
0.75
1.671
1.456
0.106
1.642
4.088
23.9865
J
1.227
1
5.55
2.453
3.442
1.404
2.471
0.548
1.1
0.869
0.8
20.864
K
1.409
6.15
3.183
5.229
2
1.852
1.021
0.695
0
0.089
6.15
27.778
L
0.918
1.505
4.534
4.021
2.185
1.588
2.722
2.002
0.215
0.263
1.505
21.458
M
0.543
1.839
2.825
2.089
2.071
1.354
0.772
1.686
0.07
0.279
1.839
15.367
N
0.292
1.12
1.994
1.432
0.907
1.213
2.4
0.317
0
0.198
1.12
10.993
Total
6.79
19.81
24.88
22.61
17.00
11.58
13.79
8.06
2.14
3.58
19.61
149.84
Graph- I: Yield per row of Aquaponics and control treatment
Yield per row (Kg)
Yeild comparision
40.00
35.00
30.00
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Aquaponics
28.17
32.78
32.49
30.05
31.75
33.08
36.36
Control
29.39
23.99
20.86
27.78
21.46
15.37 10.993

5. Effect of aquaponic treatment on number of fruits (average) harvested per plants, also shown significant
difference between two treatments. Table 2 shows that, aquaponics treatment has yielded 9.3 fruits per
plant where as in control treatment it was 7.7 fruits / plant. Graph 2 shows that numbers of fruits were
significantly more in all rows over a period of harvesting.
Table 2: Number of fruits harvested per plant
Number of fruits harvested per plant
Number of Plants
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Rows
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Total
Average
Aquaponics
A
19
7
16
9
14
8
7
9
7
8
3
12
3
10
7
6
6
8
8
10
15
192
9.1
B
11
15
11
6
6
8
10
9
8
6
17
11
8
10
8
18
9
15
4
12
6
208
9.9
C
19
16
7
16
24
19
17
20
11
7
5
10
5
6
8
5
6
5
6
10
17
239
11.4
D
2
12
9
9
6
6
7
6
14
10
7
3
9
7
9
9
5
13
8
4
9
164
7.8
E
9
9
11
6
11
9
4
2
9
8
9
7
10
3
7
9
10
12
6
6
6
4
11
178
7.7
F
13
16
12
15
8
12
9
9
10
7
9
7
6
7
10
7
6
9
12
3
9
5
1
9
211
8.8
G
11
7
9
11
9
8
9
8
10
21
16
13
9
11
11
6
9
8
11
6
6
15
10
19
253
10.5
0
9.3
Control
H
8
7
7
14
8
12
9
6
8
10
13
11
8
9
10
13
13
10
11
9
10
7
4
217
9.4
I
5
4
4
5
3
5
6
5
3
5
4
7
7
10
8
7
10
14
12
12
9
14
7
166
7.2
J
10
2
5
9
7
11
9
5
4
8
3
9
6
6
12
9
10
9
8
5
9
4
8
176
7.3
K
9
7
8
7
12
13
9
8
13
15
8
11
8
8
4
1
13
4
7
5
6
5
181
8.2
L
12
10
7
9
11
11
8
10
14
11
5
6
6
12
9
15
1
5
7
7
4
4
194
8.1
M
11
9
5
8
6
7
6
5
10
4
5
11
4
10
1
8
2
1
2
115
6.1
N
10
5
6
10
2
9
9
8
9
7
6
7
5
8
5
88
7.3
7.7
Graph 2: Average number of fruits per plant per row
Fruits / Plant
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
1
2
3
Aquaponics
4
5
Control
6
7

6. Fish Growth:
During trial fish very high fish mortality was observes, which was mainly because of fluctuating water
dissolved oxygen levels and high NH4 levels. But fish growth was satisfactory and grown up @ 25 gm /
month during 4 months of trial (Table 4).
Table 3: Fish growth record
Fish
added
Survival
after 4
months
Mortalit
y
100
30
Initial
average
wt (Gm)
70%
2
After 4
month
average Wt
(Gm)
Wt gain /
month (Gm)
Initial
average
length(Cm)
After 4
month
average
Length (Cm)
Length
gain /
month
(Cm)
103
25.25
6
23
4
Remark
Very High mortality but
Satisfactory growth
Difficulties faced:
During this trial following were the important difficulties observed as –




High water & soil EC – Water EC @ 1.70 S/cm2 and soil EC 1.57 S/cm2 was observed which was
very high for cucumber crop, this might have affected over all nutrient mobility.
The trial was conducted in summer season and higher temperature during cucumber growth(@ 45 C), which resulted in higher percentage of fruit drop, fungal disease and mite attack.
Low water circulation rate and high fish mortality - In-line drip irrigation system used for system
with discharge rate of 4 lit / hr. This rate might be insufficient for proper completing aquaponics
cycle.
Nutrient deficiency – This was found that in the fruiting stage nutrient deficiency signs of
micronutrients especially boron was predominantly observed. Percentage of incidence was high
in control plot as compare to aquaponics.
Summary:
Trial conducted on cucumber crop showed that, aquaponics bed produced significantly more yield as
compare to control beds. The results revealed that, when farm tank water having fish was circulated as
irrigation water for plants, nitrogen and other nutrients from fish waste can be efficiently used as plant
fertilizer. This system not only helps to produce (crop + fish yield) more yield per unit area but also can
be efficiently used in water scarcity area. Selection of proper growing bed with drainage system,
growing media with proper irrigation method and selection of fish species as per water quality would be
important criteria while adopting aquaponics system under Indian context. As in aquaponics water and
nutrients are recycled within close system, it can help farmers to achieve maximum production per unit
area of their field with lower input cost.
Acknowledgement:
We are very thankful to Department of Science & Technology (SEED Division) and Mr. Diamond meghaji
for their support and guidance for carrying out this experiment.

7. Plastic bed (Troughs with drainage system)
Cucumber plantation ( 1 month old)
Cucumber plantation (2 month old)
Cucumber plantation ( Aquaponics Vs Control )
Pangasius Fish growth after 4 months
Pangasius Fish growth after 4 months.