Aquaponics is a mix of hydroponic farming i.e. growing without soil and aquaculture (fish farming), which benefits both the environment and human beings. Hydroponics gave birth to aquaponics, which made farming a whole lot easier. The process includes planting vegetables in the containers altogether with water and fish. Hydroponics is not fully chemical safe, it involves usage of chemicals and fertilizers that promote growth. Hence, you're deprived of 100% natural produce. Yet, the aquaponics is safe from all sort of harmful chemicals. The fish waste is used as a nutrient solution, which is absorbed by the growing plants creating a wonderful environment for them to grow. If you have a well-maintained home aquarium then aquaponics would be a cup of tea. You don't have to be an amateur gardener to produce fresh food all year around. Imagine the luscious berries enjoying with friends & family in winter!
What makes aquaponics unique from other farming methods? The fact that it cleans the water used in the aquarium for the aquatic life. Simultaneously, the water flowing from the reservoir is enriched with fish waste that helps to provide essential nutrients for growing plants. The fish help the plants while plants help the fish, this is a great way to grow plants where one's waste turns into treasure for other. Firstly, it is vital to understand that aquaponics is an organic method of cultivation that involves use of live animals. Thus, the use of any chemicals or organic fertilizers might harm your fish. The fish produce waste that turns into a nutrient essential for the health of plants. It is necessary to supplement your fish with high-quality food frequently in a day, through this you can maintain good plant growth rates. For example, kelp-based organic waste used as a foliar spray is beneficial for plants without hampering the fish. Before using any products organic or synthetic make sure that it is fish safe.
How does the entire process work?
Fish emits ammonia and other waste, which are dangerous for the aquatic life and also reduces the quality of water in the reservoir, but the harmful elements for fish is useful for growing plants. Plants growing at the top of fish tank love to imbibe all fish waste. In aqua farming, water available in the fish tank is supplied to a plant bed where multiple microbes crush down the Ammonia into Nitrite and lastly into Nitrate. Other useful elements along with Nitrate are absorbed by the plants to facilitate growth and, give clean water. Unwanted waste is thrown out of the reservoir either through mechanical process or grow beds. At the later stage, clean water returns to the fish tank, which provides quality oxygenated water that fish requires. There's nothing better than aquaponics, a natural, sustainable process to produce good quality food without the use of chemicals.
Aquaponics system has numerous advantages. It minimizes the waste production, from the fish tank and hydroponic system. Fish is the completing addition to any garden that help grow organic food with less effort and great rewards. Beside growing crop vigorously and quickly, it has different benefits as well. Aquaponic farming involves few inputs and less maintenance, and the best part is – no water change at all! You can grow crops like onions, chives, strawberries, salad greens and many more in a single system. In addition, the system uses space saving techniques to grow to its potential. Recently, aquaponics has gained huge popularity throughout the world. Canada, Australia, The United States, The United Kingdom and other developing countries has seen a rise in both home gardens and commercial farms.
If you're an aquaponic grower or planning to start with fish farming then don't miss the golden opportunity to meet other hydroponic farmers within your field. The National Aquaponics Association will be organizing their annual conference meet this year at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tuscon, Arizona. The event will kick off from September 20th and end on 22nd. The entire objective of the conference is to facilitate quality conversations between growers and to provide detail insight into the farming industry for both beginners and experts. The three day event will comprise of presentations and tours of different farming operations. Joel Salatin from Virginia’s Polyface farms will start the conference with Max Meyes from Mendocino Ecological Learning Center and Nor Cal Aquaponics in California. As we all know, Tuscon's mayor is a fan of the event and will hopefully host the beginning ceremony. Apart from this, 20th September is crowned as the city's official “Aquaponics Day” by the mayor.
If you want to learn more about auqaponics or want to become an expert in the field then you can't afford to miss the event. Sit back and enjoy the Arizona conference all about farms, gardens and system on the journey route. Get deep into the event, know more about aquaponics from notable speakers from the respective farming industry and build relation in “Meet and Greet” sessions at the cocktail party. What else a plant grower can ask for? Registration has started, see you there!
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