Articles
DEWATERING AND COMPOSTING AQUACULTURE WASTE AS A GROWING MEDIUM IN THE NURSERY PRODUCTION OF TOMATO PLANTS
Article number
891_26
Pages
223 – 229
Language
English
Abstract
Intensive recirculating aquaculture systems discharge effluent containing organic matter and nutrients daily.
Managing discharged effluent will require innovative management approaches.
Geotextile technology used in combination with polymers has been proven effective for dewatering aquaculture effluent.
Composting the solids retained in the geotextile bag (GTB) with a suitable carbon source may provide the farmer with a potentially marketable product for nursery media.
The objective of this study was to compost dewatered aquaculture effluent at different ratios with guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and determine its potential as a media source for the nursery production of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Bella Rosa) plants.
Five treatments and three replicates each were used to evaluate the effect of treatment on tomato seedling emergence and growth.
Treatment 1 (Control) utilized ProMix substrate and was the only treatment to receive the addition of a water soluble 8-45-14 plant starter fertilizer.
Treatment 2 utilized ProMix, but no fertilizer was applied.
Treatment 3 (80/20), treatment 4 (60/40), and treatment 5 (40/60) consisted of the prepared composts.
Besides the control, the nutritional requirements of all remaining treatments were met entirely by the nursery substrate used.
Physical and chemical characteristics of all media used were evaluated.
Results of seedling emergence and plant growth are discussed.
Results suggest composted aquaculture effluent would provide a fish farmer with a potentially marketable product for vegetable nursery media.
This study demonstrated a compost substrate of 60% GTB solids:40% guinea grass as the sole nutrient source improved tomato seedling growth compared to seedlings grown in ProMix and fertilized.
All compost substrates evaluated may be alternatives to a ProMix substrate typically used for the nursery phase of tomato plants and the composts could act as the sole nutrient provider for three-week-old tomato seedlings.
Managing discharged effluent will require innovative management approaches.
Geotextile technology used in combination with polymers has been proven effective for dewatering aquaculture effluent.
Composting the solids retained in the geotextile bag (GTB) with a suitable carbon source may provide the farmer with a potentially marketable product for nursery media.
The objective of this study was to compost dewatered aquaculture effluent at different ratios with guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and determine its potential as a media source for the nursery production of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Bella Rosa) plants.
Five treatments and three replicates each were used to evaluate the effect of treatment on tomato seedling emergence and growth.
Treatment 1 (Control) utilized ProMix substrate and was the only treatment to receive the addition of a water soluble 8-45-14 plant starter fertilizer.
Treatment 2 utilized ProMix, but no fertilizer was applied.
Treatment 3 (80/20), treatment 4 (60/40), and treatment 5 (40/60) consisted of the prepared composts.
Besides the control, the nutritional requirements of all remaining treatments were met entirely by the nursery substrate used.
Physical and chemical characteristics of all media used were evaluated.
Results of seedling emergence and plant growth are discussed.
Results suggest composted aquaculture effluent would provide a fish farmer with a potentially marketable product for vegetable nursery media.
This study demonstrated a compost substrate of 60% GTB solids:40% guinea grass as the sole nutrient source improved tomato seedling growth compared to seedlings grown in ProMix and fertilized.
All compost substrates evaluated may be alternatives to a ProMix substrate typically used for the nursery phase of tomato plants and the composts could act as the sole nutrient provider for three-week-old tomato seedlings.
Authors
J.J. Danaher, J.E. Rakocy, R.C. Shultz, D.S. Bailey, E. Pantanella
Keywords
effluent, geotextile, media, substrate, seedlings
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