The Efficacy of an Aquaponics System in the Production of Pechay (Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis) Plants

Authors

  • Aleksie Alvaran

Keywords:

Aquaponics system, Pechay plant, Agriculture

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is an agricultural country with a land area of 30 million hectares, 47% of which is agricultural land is located in urban areas, but its productivity has been reduced for almost 22% in the past five years due to natural disasters and lack of support from the government. To address this concern, concerned citizens must think of other way of producing crops such as the aquaponics system of crop production. It is the combination of hydroponics system, the method of growing plants on water based solution and aquaculture, or rearing of aquatic animals for food. Due to this, researchers are motivated to produce pechay plant using aquaponics system.

METHODS

The following materials were prepared for the study: reservoir, submersible pumps, pechay seedlings, cups, styropor, fishes, and river stones. In preparing the systems, the materials were gathered, followed by the construction of it. First, two containers for each set up were provided and a styropor with five holes above it was placed together with the cups with river stones and seedling. The two containers must be connected to the fish aquarium through a hose. As the water from the aquarium rose up through the submersible pump, it would be filtered through the river stones, and then would flow back to the aquarium.

RESULTS

These are the results obtained in the study based on the experiment. In terms of number of leaves and height of plant Treatment 3 is the most effective. Therefore Treatment 0 and Treatment 3 have a significant difference. Treatment 0 and Treatment 1 have no significant difference so as Treatments 0 and 2. Treatments 1 and 2 have no significant difference as well as Treatment 1 and Treatment 3. Finally, Treatments 2 and 3 as also no difference.

DISCUSSIONS

The researchers conclude that there is a significant difference between the growths of pechay plant using aquaponics system with varying number of fish in terms of number of leaves and height of the plant between Treatment 0 and Treatment 3. The result proves that the treatment with higher numberof tilapia is more effective than the others.

Published

2019-01-18