The Effect of Anaerobic and Aerobic Fish Sludge Supernatant on Hydroponic Lettuce

The mobilization of nutrients from fish sludge (i.e., feces and uneaten feed) plays a key role in optimizing the resource utilization and thus in improving the sustainability of aquaponic systems. While several studies have documented the aerobic and anaerobic digestion performance of aquaculture sl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agronomy (Basel) 2016, Vol.6 (2), p.37
Main Authors: Goddek, Simon, Schmautz, Zala, Scott, Ben, Delaide, Boris, Keesman, Karel, Wuertz, Sven, Junge, Ranka
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aerobic digestion
Agriculture & agronomie
Agriculture & agronomy
anaerobic digestion
aquaponics
bio-fertilizer
Biobased Chemistry and Technology
horticulture
hydroponics
integrated aquaculture
Life sciences
Sciences du vivant
sludge
VLAG
WIMEK
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Summary:The mobilization of nutrients from fish sludge (i.e., feces and uneaten feed) plays a key role in optimizing the resource utilization and thus in improving the sustainability of aquaponic systems. While several studies have documented the aerobic and anaerobic digestion performance of aquaculture sludge, the impact of the digestate on plant growth has yet to be understood. The present study examines the impact of either an aerobic or an anaerobic digestion effluent on lettuce plant growth, by enriching a mixture of aquaculture and tap water with supernatants from both aerobic and anaerobic batch reactors. The lettuce plants grown in the hydroponic system supplied with supernatant from an anaerobic reactor had significantly better performance with respect to weight gain than both, those in the system where supernatant from the aerobic reactor was added, as well as the control system. It can be hypothesized that this effect was caused by the presence of NH4+ as well as dissolved organic matter, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and fungi, and humic acid, which are predominantly present in anaerobic effluents. This study should therefore be of value to researchers and practitioners wishing to further develop sludge remineralization in aquaponic systems.
ISSN:2073-4395
2073-4395
DOI:10.3390/agronomy6020037