Production Potential of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) in Hydroponics and Tilapia Based Aquaponics

Zubyda Mushtari  Nadia; Prosun  Roy; Md. Abdus  Salam

Authors

Zubyda Mushtari Nadia Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh; Department of Aquatic Animal Health Management, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
Prosun Roy Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Md. Abdus Salam Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Keywords:

Aquaponics, Broccoli, Hydroponics, Mixed fertilizer, Tilapia, Vermicompost tea

Abstract

Hydroponics is a plant growing procedure in water and aquaponics is an eco-friendly, water and energy-saving bio-integrated recirculating aquaculture system that integrates fish farming and vegetable gardening in a symbiotic close loop system. This experiment was carried to observe the production potentiality of broccoli in different type hydroponics like organic hydroponics (T₁), inorganic hydroponics (T₂) and tilapia based aquaponics systems (T₃) each with three replicates for 106 days from 19^th February to 4^th June, 2018. Three kg vermicompost as T₁ was soaked in 90 L water in a drum with a net bag and after that 1 kg vermicompost was added weekly discarding the old one. In case of T₂, 28.50 g mixed fertilizer composed of 5g urea, 7.50g TSP, 5g MOP, 5g dolomite, 5g DAP, 0.50 g boron and 0.50 g iron were added in 90 L water and after seven days 22.80 g was added fortnightly. In the aquaponics tank, 10 healthy tilapia fingerlings were released in the same amount of water and 30% protein containing commercial floating feed was fed twice daily at the rate of 3% body weight. Sampling were carried out fortnightly for collecting different parameters of broccoli, fish and water quality. Significantly (P≤0.01) the highest broccoli production was found in T₂ (11.79±0.51 tons/ha/106 days) followed by T₃ (4.77±0.85 tons/ha/106 days) and the least was in T₁ (2.24±0.14 tons/ha/106 days). The analysis showed that, the leaf area, root length and weight were statistically similar in all the three treatments. Fish production was 21.55±3.36 tons/ha/106 days. Nutritional composition of broccoli was also highest in T₂ except moisture and ash content. Water dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrogen and phosphorus concentration were suitable for growing broccoli in T₂. Whereas in T₃, ammonia concentration was high for fish. Broccoli production at higher temperature (31.40 to 36.00°C) in the laboratory than the optimum temperature was possible. Further experiment is needed to carry out in larger areas with different crops and fishes before extension in the field level.