Aquaculture America 2023

February 23 - 26, 2023

New Orleans, Louisiana USA

SHRIMP AQUAPONICS RESEARCH AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY – OPTIMAL SALINITY, SHRIMP/PLANT RATIO, AND OPTIMAL DIETARTY CRUDE PROTEIN

 P.B Brown* and Y.-T. Chu

 

 Purdue University

 Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

 West Lafayette, IN 47907

 pb@purdue.edu

 



A series of studies was conducted focused on establishing the basic production parameters of a marine shrimp and halophytic plant aquaponic scenario.  Shrimp species was Pacific whiteleg, Litopenaeus vannamei and three halophytic plant crops familiar in Asian cuisines (red orache, okahijiki, and minutina) were evaluated.  In the first study, optimal environmental salinity was evaluated.  Salinities of 10, 15 and 20 ppt were established in replicated systems using a flocponic approach.  Results indicated 15 ppt was the best compromise salinity for maximum growth of the shrimp and plants.  In the second study, three ratios of shrimp to plants (2:1, 3:1 and 5:1) and two C/N ratios were evaluated.  A ratio of 3:1 with a C/N ratio of 15 was recommended for maximum production.  In the third study, dietary crude protein concentrations of 30, 35 and 40% were evaluated.  Shrimp growth was not significantly affected by dietary crude protein concentrations.  Results indicated higher dietary crude protein concentrations should be offered in the early stages of production, but the lower dietary crude protein concentration could be used after initial harvest of plants.  Longer term studies are underway as well as evaluation of three additional halophytic plant crops.  These data provide the framework for establishing a marine/brackish water aquaponic system using shrimp and halophytic plants.

Literature

Chu, Y.-T. and P.B. Brown.  2021. Evaluation of Pacific whiteleg shrimp and three

halophytic plants in marine aquaponic systems under three salinities. Sustainability

13:269. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su13010269.

Chu, Y.-T. and P.B. Brown.  2021.  Sustainable marine aquaponics: effects of

shrimp to plant ratios and C/N ratios.  Frontiers in Marine Science 8:771630. doi:

10.3389/fmars.2021.771630.

Chu, Y.-T. and P.B. Brown.  2022.  Optimal dietary crude protein for shrimp and

halophytes in marine aquaponic biofloc systems.  Frontiers in Marine Science 9:824973. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.824973