Aquaponic Plant Selection and

Considerations

Aquaculture Boot Camp-2 February 11, 2017

Brad Bergefurd, Extension Educator Agriculture and Natural Resources &

Horticulture Specialist

OSU Extension Scioto County

OSU Piketon Research & Extension Center

Acceptable yields= profit potential

Treatment Marketable ounces per square foot

Styrofoam float tray Mizuna

10.3912 A

Hydrocorn Mizuna

2.208 C

Rock Mizuna

1.4214 C

Styfofoam float tray Red Leaf Lettuce

4.0157 B

Hydrocorn Red Leaf Lettuce

2.3874 C

Rock Red Leaf Lettuce

1.1592 C

LSD 1.5349

*Treatments with different Letters are significantly different.

Aquaponic Benefits

• Two crops - symbiotic relationship between plants and fish

• Reduction in waste-water discharge by recycling nutrients

• 90% REDUCTION in water use vs. conventional farming techniques

• Minimal need for land- because of their compact nature, facilities may be located very close to the end users (restaurants, green grocers, food manufacturers, public) in a variety of locations (country, city, desert).

• Supports Local Market Demand

• Produces an organic food source-no herbicides and OMRI pesticides can be used

• Year round production for marketing advantage

Disadvantages to aquaponics

• High start up costs

• Lack of research

• Have to manage both systems, fish and plants

• Needs constant monitoring (babysitting) and

skilled management

• Moderate energy inputs

• Niche, high-end marketing to be profitable

Nitrogen Cycle in Aquaponics

Nutrient Management- Why is it so important?

• Specialty crops (vegetable, fruit,

herbs) tend to be short-term

crops grown as part of a multiple

cropping system.

• Succession cropping is common

(i.e. several crops grown one

after another in same area).

• Intercropping is common (two or

more crops growing at the same

time in the same area).

Fertility Regular

Often

Adjust throughout

season Photo by Steve Groff

Specialty Crop Fertilizer and Environment

• Intensive aquaponic production systems use protective

structures to grow a number of crops year around which

influences fertility management

• With proper fertilizer management specialty crop

producers can minimize environmental impacts and

improve fertilizer use efficiently.

• Growers should know their crops, account for the

nutrient values of ALL soil amendments and test soils

and plants to support fertilizer management decisions.

Fertigation & Monitoring

• Regular & Often

• Adjust throughout the crop cycle based on weekly/daily

plant and water analysis

• Immediate testing determines how much nitrate is already

present in the plant, minimizing the possibility of under or

over fertilization. Cardy meters $495,

http://www.specmeters.com

• Excess N also can result in reduced nutritional content.

• Leafy green vegetables= high N can result in accumulation of nitrates in

plant tissue to unhealthy levels.

• High N can cause reduced volatile production and negative impact on

flavor & aroma in fruits, vegetables and hops.

• Excess N= hollow stem in broccoli and reduced storage qualities of fruit

and vegetables.

• Excess n can cause reductions in other plant nutrients such as P, Ca, Mg.

resulting in deficiencies and associated disorders.

Nitrogen Management in Specialty Crops

Some Examples of Aquaponic Systems

Continuous flow (more energy)

Floating Rafts

Multi-level vertically integrated systems

Ebb and flow

Troughs

Gravel beds

Slide from Rainfresh Harvests

non-circulating, hydroponic, float-bed

system

Fuhrmann Orchards Scioto County

imag

e co

urt

esy

B. B

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SU

bag culture

Aquaponic strawberries?

• Thanks to a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant current Ohio research :

• Stackers

• Troughs

• Gutters

1 month growth:

Arugula, bokchoy, basil, mustard

greens

Things can go bad real fast!!

• Plant nutrition and water needs to be constantly monitored and adjusted.

In Summary

• Aquaponics more popular than ever

• Get training

• Avoid shysters

• Use careful business planning

• Start of with a small pilot system

• Be ready to market a high value product

• Keep connected with research organizations

Full research reports, assistance and production information

• Brad Bergefurd Horticulture Specialist

• Extension Educator Piketon Research & Extension Center 1864 Shyville Road Piketon, Ohio 45661

• 1-800-860-7232 ext 136

• OSU Extension Scioto County Portsmouth, Ohio

• 740-354-7879

• Bergefurd.1@osu.edu

• www.southcenters.osu.edu

ANY QUESTIONS?

Aquaponics Advantages

• Extended growing seasons

• Wind and rain protection (Indoor)

• Potential for reduced disease problems on certain crops

• Potential for higher market value of crops

• Potential for higher quality harvested crops

• Potential for higher yields

• All crops can be Aquaponically with the right management and inputs

• Use of nutrient rich water

Potential Disadvantages

•Could be significant capital expense $

•Logistics and bottom line progfit potential of some crops

•Required continuous monitoring and management of production systems, temperatures, ventilation, pests

•Potential for structural damage from wind, snow, and ice loads.

• Insect and disease management (IPM)

• Management (babysitting)

• Use of nutrient rich water

Split Nitrogen Applications

• Many specialty crops require applying Nitrogen at different stages of

plant maturity.

• Excessive amounts or deficiencies in N can result in plant/fruit

physiological disorders (i.e. yellow shoulder disorder, blotchy

ripening of tomato).

• Split applications are generally more efficient in terms of fertilizer

and crop usage.

• Split applications require intensive crop monitoring and application

management.

• Applications made before nutrient deficiencies occur and in advance

of crop maturity stages (i.e not too early or too late).

Phosporous and Potassium applications

• P & K should be managed properly to minimize costs and

maximize efficiency.

• Excessive amounts or deficiencies in K can result in fruit

physiological disorders (i.e. yellow shoulder disorder of tomato).

• Tough to make applications in an aquaponics situation.

• To sustain adequate plant growth the concentrations of micro- and

macronutrients need to be monitored.

• Periodically some nutrients may need to be added to adjust their

concentration.

• Fertigation (applying nutrients through irrigation system) is recommended

when irrigation systems are designed accordingly.

• Must co- manage with fish production.

Fertigation Equipment

Structural and Environmental

Management •

Integrated Pest Management Tactics

(Aquaponic farming)

What is IPM?

• “Integrated pest management (IPM) is a threshold based decision management system which leads to judicious use of multiple pest control tactics.”

• IPM is currently insecticide-intensive…

• Major losses occur due to:

• Lack of early detection of insects

• Insecticide resistance by misuse

• Loss of natural control with insecticides

Decision making in IPM…

• Insect detection & monitoring

• Insect identification

• Population pressure

• Economic threshold

• Make treatment decision >>> 3-tiered

approach

Thresholds • They are the “yardsticks” that indicate

the need for control

• They are economically based

• They are different according to the

different pests (based on life cycles,

feeding habits, etc.)

• They can be different for different crops

• They may change according to

conditions or method of control.

A Variety of Disciplines for Both

Preventive and Rescue Type Pest Control

• Sanitation-Removal of residues and

hosts in and around the growing facility

• Cultural-Crop rotation, use of resistant

varieties, proper fertility, grafted plants

• Mechanical - Cultivation, row covers

• Biological - Releasing, attracting or

maintaining beneficial insect

populations, bio-fungicides

• Chemical - “organic”/”inorganic”

IPM Decision Making

• Level 1: Systems-based practices (cultural practices,

sanitation, crop rotation, trap crops)

• Level 2: Mechanical and physical practices (barriers,

lures/traps, repellents, hand-picking, netting)

• Level 3: Biorational & other material

• (OMRI or traditional approved insecticides)

Starting Point for IPM… • Emphasis on Pest Detection & Correct Identification:

– INSECT PHEROMONE TRAPS for improved scouting

– Trap Catch = Pest Density X Pest Activity (Taylor, 1963)

– Insect Monitoring Project in Ohio

Corn rootworm trap Sticky wing trap

Stink bug trap

Insect Netting Applications

Insect netting on the sides of a high tunnel

Use insect netting over the entire high tunnel frame

Biological Control Agents or Natural Enemies

Na

tura

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Predators: – Ladybugs, Spiders

• General feeders

• Eat several prey

• Larger and stronger than the prey

Parasitoids (=parasites): – Wasps, Flies

• Specialist feeders

• Kill only one host (pest)

• Smaller than the host

Pathogens: – Bacteria, Fungus & Viruses

• Micro-organisms that cause diseases in

insects

Who kills Pests?

http://www.harvesttotable.com/2012/06/parasitic-wasps-beneficial-insects/

extension.entm.purdue.edu

Flicker.com

42

Predators

Green lacewing

Larvae

Larvae © Rao Balusu

© Rao Balusu

ucanr.edu

Eggs

Lady beetles Hover flies

Abulrfan

Robber flies

www.ipm.ncsu.edu

Bigeyed bugs

Assassin bugs

Minute pirate bugs

Crab spider Wolf spider Orb weavers

Spinded soldier bug Spiders

farmerfredrant.blogspot.com

43

Parasitoids

Trichogramma wasp

shareourgarden.blogspot.com

Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc

Aphidius wasp

www.ipm.ucdavis.edu

Mummified aphids

Wasp in action www.biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu

Trichopoda pennipes http://bugguide.net/node/view/6647

Tachinid flies

Insecticides for Aquaponic

Vegetable Production

If you do apply a pesticide, make sure to

follow all label and safety precautions!

•Wear protective equipment

•The person applying the pesticide should be

monitored at all times during the application of a

fumigant.

•Post a warning sign that states when the REI is over.

Insecticide Mode of Action (MoA)

Physical dessicant – kaolin clay, ash

Contact action – vegetable oils, horticultural oils, neem, pyrethrin, insecticidal soap, spinosyn, Beauveria, Metarhizium

Stomach action – Bt (Dipel)

Volatile action – Garlic Barrier, Cinnamite

Friend of friends – Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

• Bt kurstaki strain acts on small caterpillars

• Caterpillars in cool-season crops, tomatoes, pepper

• Bt tenebrionis strain for beetles

• Frequent appl., thorough coverage needed

• 0 Pre Harvest Interval (PHI)

•

Pyrethrin/Pyrethrum

• Broad-spectrum insect control

• Pyganic 1.4EC, 5 EC – OMRI approved

•Pyrethrin + piperonyl butoxide (PBO-synergist) not organic

• Insects may recover

6% AI

6o% PBO

Permethrin – NOT organic insecticide!

Neem-based Insecticides

Neem (oil) OMRI approved

Neem II (oil + pyrethrin)

• Contact action, controls immature insects!

• Target pests: aphids, armyworms, scales, thrips, WF

For commercial producers

Insecticide Premixes Azera :

• OMRI approved

• Mix of azadirachtin + pyrethrin

• Interferes with molting, rapid knock-down

• Contact, stomach action, IGR

• Effective against stink bugs (brown marmorated stink bug)

Mix of neem + pyrethrin (Green Light)

Common name Product

Spinosyn A, D Entrust (SpinTor phase out)

Spinetoram Radiant 1SC

MoA: Mimic neurotransmitter, hyperexcite insects

Entrust: for ORGANIC producers

Spinosyn

•Excellent for thrips, leafminers, looper, others

•READ THE LABEL!!

Insecticidal Soap • Potassium salt of fatty acids

• Control soft-bodied insects (aphids, whiteflies)

• Some short-chain fatty acids are herbicides (household detergent)

• No residual action, not rain fast

OMRI Approved

Not OMRI Approved

Kaolin Clay • Present naturally in soil in tropical countries

• Foliar spray at high rate (25 lb/A)

• OMRI approved – Surround WP (95% clay)

• Natural desiccant, feeding deterrent

Vegetable Oils • Physical poisons

• Short residue

• Effective against soft-bodied insects

• Do not use if temps are >90F

• May not be OMRI approved

Canola oil (96%)

Soybean oil (93%)

Sesame oil 5% Fish oil 92%