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Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture in a zero-exchange recirculation aquaculture system for marine fish and hydroponic halophyte production

Aquaculture International volume 23, pages 1473–1489 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of nutrient recycling from a marine recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for fish (European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L.) through three salt-tolerant, halophyte plant species, Tripolium pannonicum (Jacq.) Dobrocz., Plantago coronopus L., and Salicornia dolichostachya (Moss.). Halophytes, illuminated by sunlight and supplemented with artificial light, were maintained in hydroponic cultures integrated in a RAS water treatment system operating at 16 psu salinity. During a 35-day experiment, 248 fishes gained 5.6 kg of weight. Total plant biomass production reached 23 kg in 14 m2 hydroponic culture area. Gain of shoot biomass was 27, 18, and 60 g m−2 day−1 for T. pannonicum, P. coronopus, and S. dolichostachya, respectively. The plants retained 7 g phosphorus and 46 g nitrogen under the experimental conditions. This was equivalent to 9 % of the N and 10 % of the P introduced with the fish feed. The edible part of the harvested plant material was microbially safe and approved for human consumption. The coupling of production in a RAS–IMTA was tested as a feasible cascading production technology for sustainable aquaculture.

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Abbreviations

IMTA:

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture

RAS:

Recirculation aquaculture systems

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the gardeners, Yvonne Leye and Lutz Krüger, for taking care of the seedlings and young plants, Rebecca Hosang, Pamela von Trzebiatowski, and Julia Volker for technical assistance, and Christian Boestfleisch for support in harvesting the plants. The project was financially supported by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) (AZ27708/1-3) and the Erwin Sander Elektroapparatebau GmbH Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes (htw saar), Goebenstraße 40, 66117, Saarbücken, Germany

    Uwe Waller, Anneliese Ernst, Verena Hanke & Andreas Kulakowski

  2. Institut für Botanik, Herrenhäuserstr. 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany

    Anne K. Buhmann & Jutta Papenbrock

  3. neomar GmbH, Am Osterberg 22, 31311, Uetze-Eltze, Germany

    Bert Wecker

  4. Escuela de Ciencias del Mar, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av. Altamirano, 1480, Valparaiso, Chile

    Jaime Orellana

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  1. Uwe Waller
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  2. Anne K. Buhmann
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Correspondence to Uwe Waller.

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Waller, U., Buhmann, A.K., Ernst, A. et al. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture in a zero-exchange recirculation aquaculture system for marine fish and hydroponic halophyte production. Aquacult Int 23, 1473–1489 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-015-9898-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-015-9898-3

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