Aquaponics

Aquaponics fuses two techniques into one closed-loop system: aquaculture (growing fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in nutrient-laden water instead of soil). Beyond producing both fish and vegetables from one setup, it helps prevent toxic water runoff and maintains ecosystem balance by recycling the waste and excretory products the fish generate — India adopted aquaponics only in 2013. Four primary aquaponic methods are in current use. Deep water culture (raft-based) floats a raft on the water with plants held in holes so their roots dangle directly into it; suited to larger commercial systems, it favours fast-growing plants. Media-based culture grows plants in an inert medium such as clay pellets or shale, and is the method suited to home and hobby-scale systems, supporting a wide range of fruiting plants, leafy greens and herbs. The Nutrient Film Technique passes nutrient-rich water through a narrow trough or PVC pipe, with plants held in holes so their roots stay in constant contact with the flowing stream. Aqua vertica (vertical aquaponics) stacks plants in tower systems with water flowing in from the top, and suits leafy greens, strawberries and other crops …