TILAPIA CULTURE IN AQUAPONIC SYSTEM, IRAN
Tilapia fries with 6.2g and 5.9g mean weight and stocking density of 40/m3 were respectively stocked in two 2.5m3 tanks at September 2013 for 9 months. Fish culture in the two tanks tended to 17.2kg/m3 and 19kg/m3 fish production with 658g and 596 mean final weigth, 98% and 100% survival and 1.4 and 1.6 food conversion rate (FCR), respectively. Plants were implanted using grow beds, floating rafts and nutrient film methods. Monthly production of mint, basil, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, pepper were 1.14, 0.5-0.8, 1.32, 2.7-4, 2.03-3.4 and 1.1 kg/m2 crops, respectively.
Iran is one of disaster countries in terms of water crisis. Also, deficit of agricultural soil is a limiting agent for development of agronomy. Moreover, production of organic crops is very important for health nutrition. Tilapia is an important commercial fish because of its fast growth, tolerance to environmental conditions and diseases, possibility of intensive culture, low costs of production and marketable flavor. Production of aquatic and agricultural crops in an aquaponic system would ask these expectations.
Aquaponic system is a modern method of agriculture that is used in some countries at recent decades. Better management of water use in agriculture and aquaculture besides environmental discretion is achievable in aquaponic culture system.
Studies about different aspects of aquaculture of tilapia have begun in Iran from 2008. Tilapia culture in Iran has not been advanced because of environmental considerations. Tilapia culture in aquaponic system can provide production of fish and vegetable along with environmental discretion.
Aquaponic system that includes combination of hydroponics and water recycling systems was examined for modulated culture of tilapia and agricultural crops at the present study.