In aquaculture, to increase production and mitigate competition for water resources, multiple technologies have been implemented, such as AMTI, which consists of the culture of two or more species of different trophic levels, so that the waste from one is used by another (González-Henríquez, 2015). The objective of the present research was to develop an integrated multitrophic aquaculture system (IMTA) by tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Malaysian prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) for the production of two species of chili plants.
The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments (IMTA and control) in triplicate. Each experimental unit consisted of 85 tilapia m3, 20 prawn m2, 20 chili plants (serrano and jalapeño) per m2. The control consisted of the individual cultivation of each species (plants in hydroponic system). The study lasted 180 days; the parameters of water quality, productive performance of the animals and plants in culture, as well as nutrients (K, Na, Ca and P) were evaluated both in the water culture and in the sap of the plants. Data were analyzed with a Student’s t-test at p<0.05.
The physicochemical variables in water showed similar concentrations in IMTA and the control, except for NO3 which presented significantly higher values in the water plants. Electrical conductivity (Ce) was higher in organisms cultured in IMTA. Plants in the control group had higher values of K, while Na and Ca concentrations were higher in organisms cultured in IMTA, except between tilapia in IMTA and control, when the values were similar. Values of P were high and similar among organisms cultured in IMTA and control plants. The productive performance in tilapia was higher in the IMTA, and the prawns in the control group. Chili plants had higher survival and growth in the IMTA and only jalapeño plants produced fruit in the IMTA (Table 1).