Browsing by Author "Noamane, Mohamed Wajdi"
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- Innovative and Sustainable Cultivation of Brassica Eruca vesicaria with Reuse of Wastewater from the Production of Squalius alburnoides by Decoupled AquaponicsPublication . Noamane, Mohamed Wajdi; Dias, Maria Inês; Teixeira, AmílcarThe growth of the world population represents a great challenge for an adequate response to sustainable food production. Unfortunately, the conventional approach to agriculture, adopted in response to this challenge, entails adverse consequences for both the environment and consumer health. To control and/or reduce these consequences, various sustainable plant production techniques have been employed with great success. Aquaponics is a practice that combines hydroponics with aquaculture, distinguishing itself from conventional practices through the more efficient use of water, as the essential nutrients for plant matrix growth come from fish production wastewater. This practice can be established in a coupled or decoupled manner (without a water recirculation system between the hydroponic and aquaculture systems). To meet the specific nutritional needs for sustainable plant production, this project proposes the implementation of a decoupled aquaponics system for the hydroponic production of rocket (Eruca vesicaria L.) using wastewater from the production of a native freshwater fish, Calandino (Squalius alburnoides), in an aquaculture system. The wastewater will be monitored in terms of physicochemical and microbiological parameters, namely, pH, conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration and aeration, ammonia and nitrate concentrations, total nitrogen and phosphorus, total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli, and sulfite-reducing Clostridium spores. Additionally, the quality of aquaponics produced rocket will be evaluated through physiological growth characteristics and through its nutritional, chemical, and bioactive profile compared to commercial arugula. The results revealed critical challenges that affected the performance of the aquaponic system, including suboptimal environmental and water quality conditions for both fish and plants. For the aquaculture component, high nitrite, phosphorus, and dissolved oxygen levels, along with high microbial contamination, compromised fish health and nutrient availability. Similarly, the hydroponic component experienced growth challenges due to fluctuating environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, pH, and electrical conductivity, which negatively impacted rocket plant development. Despite these challenges, the aquaponic system showed potential for producing nutrient-dense crops, with the microbial load in fish wastewater underscoring the need for effective water treatment and microbial management. This study emphasizes the importance of rigorous control over key environmental parameters in aquaponics, highlighting the need for optimized systems that balance the specific requirements of both the aquaculture and hydroponic components. By fine-tuning nutrient concentrations, improving water quality management, and implementing better climate control, aquaponics systems can enhance both fish health and plant productivity, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture. The findings contribute valuable insights into refining aquaponic practices for improved sustainability and productivity in food production systems.