The term FLOCPONIC is used to name an integrated system of aquaponics with bioflocs and has been successfully proven for the production of diverse animal and vegetal species, showing to be a sustainable and economically feasible practice. In the present study, a preliminary assay was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of a flocponic system for the production of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), jalapeño pepper and mini bell pepper (Capsicum annum) with promising results at least for tilapia and mini bell pepper.
The study was conducted during eight weeks (mid-September to mid-November) in the facilities of the Departamento de Agricultura y Ganadería, Universidad de Sonora at Hermosillo, Sonora, México. Tilapia was farmed in tanks (500 L), with and without bioflocs incorporated. The bioflocs were produced in a transparent tank (500 L) inoculated with the microalgae Scenedesmus oblicuos and wheat brand. The effluents were passed to PVC tubes for the hydroponic culture of jalapeño pepper (Capsicum annum). The final effluent was used to a fertigation culture of mini bell pepper (Capsicum annum). The production response of tilapia in terms of weight gain, survival, biomass and FCR, was little better in tanks with bioflocs (Table 1). The jalapeño pepper had not a good performance in the hydroponics system in terms of plan height, survival, number of fruits per plant and days for flowering (Table 2). Contrarily, mini bell pepper showed a better performance (Table 3).
We concluded that our experimental flocponics system could be more efficient, but some adjustments need to be done.