Linkages of Aquaculture - Wetlands - Hydroponics & Linkages of Aquaculture - Wetlands - Hydroponics & Industrial Wastewater in Central Queensland (Australia)Industrial Wastewater in Central Queensland (Australia)

Dr. Brett Roe Central Queensland UniversityPlant Sciences Group Queensland, Australiabreadfish@meee.com.au

Project Location: Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Mean annual precipitation: 614 mm

AUSTRALIA

Queensland

City of Rockhampton

Location: - 23 24' S lat. 150 30' E log.

Mean annual evaporation: 2243 mm

(1992 - 2002)

Depleted and degraded freshwater supply is the greatest threat currently facing Central Queensland.

Integrate regional water based industry, agribusiness, and ecology for multiple societal benefit.

Constructed wetlands

Aquaculture

Power station wastewater

Floral hydroponics

Integrated Aquaculture and Constructed Wetlands

• Biodiversity • Carbon dioxide sequestration and cycling • Soil and nutrient retention • Direct or indirect water supply• Wetland products / tourism / education

• In-line and discharge water quality control• Secondary crop and / or in situ feed production• Minimal skilled / non-skilled labor• Minimal energy to sustain• One time investment – long operating life

ConstructedWetlands

?

Aquaculture

+

Wetland Services

(RAMSAR, 1996)

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) Red claw (Cherax quadricarinatus)

Schoenoplectus validus

Baumea articulata

SYSTEM DESIGN

Pilot Scale Integration

Rose Hydroponics

Wetlands

Barramundi

Red claw

Water Input

Physical - Hydrological Frameworks

discharge / reuse

RESULTS

Animal and Plant Growth

Barramundi Culture Efficiency

Trial 1 - 2001 Trial 2 - 2002 Trial 3 - 2003

R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2

SGR 2.77 2.72 2.56 2.63 2.52 2.31

feeding rate (% body weight day -1)

2.59 2.63 2.15 2.29 2.50 2.18

FCR 0.80 0.82 0.81 0.85 1.14 0.92

tank culture density (kg m-3)

14.8 14.5 8.5 7.6 20.2 30.2

wetland culture density (kg m-2)

1.4 1.4 0.8 0.7 1.9 2.8

survival % 97.5 100 95 90 75.4 92.3

Barramundi SGR measured at the high end of published SRGs for barramundi cultured commercially in ponds and cages

Barramundi feeding rate measured near the lower end of published feeding rates for fish cultured in integrated wetland systems, but high for commercial barramundi systems.

Barramundi FCRs were very efficient when compared to barramundi cultured commercially, and when compared to fish culture in integrated wetland systems,

Barramundi culture density (with respect to culture wetland surface area) was at least 6 times greater than fish culture densities reported for all other integrated wetland systems

Red Claw Culture Efficiency

trial 1 - 2001 trial 2 - 2002 trial 3 - 2003

R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2

SGR 0.91 0.92 0.60 1.24 0.96 0.98

wetland density (kg m-2)

0.04 0.05 0.18 0.15 0.12 0.14

survival (%) 80.0 70.0 na na 63.0 73.1

Red claw SGRs and survival rates measured at the high end of published SGRs where red claw had been cultured with fish in non-wetland systems.

Red claw SGRs measured at the low end (less efficient) of published SGR values for direct-fed pond cultured red claw.

Red claw culture densities were similar to those reported in crayfish poly-culture systems

year 04.02.01 08.01.03

dry

plan

t mat

ter

(g m

-2)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

7400

7600

7800

8000

T1 - T3 Schoenoplectus validus T4 - T6 Baumea articulata R1 - R2 Schoenoplectus validus

Wetland Plant Biomass

2001 2003

Nutrient Water Quality

Source

Effluent Total Nitrogen Concentration

year 01.08.01 16.08.01 29.08.01 18.09.01 15.10.01 18.06.02 05.08.02 28.09.02 23.11.02

tota

l nitr

ogen

-

g L

-1

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

A A A A A A A A A

source waterR1 - R2 Schoenoplectus validusT1 - T3 Schoenoplectus validusT4 - T6 Baumea articulataANZECC triggerA

Trial 1 Trial 2

2001 2002

Effleunt Total Phosphorus Concentration

year 01.08.01 16.08.01 29.08.01 18.09.01 15.10.01 18.06.02 05.08.02 28.09.02 23.11.02

tota

l pho

spho

rus

- g

L-1

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

A A A A A A A A A

source waterR1 - R2 Schoenoplectus validusT1 - T3 Schoenoplectus validusT4 - T6 Baumea articulataANZECC triggerA

Trial 1 Trial 2

2001 2002

MASS BALANCE

Culture Wetlands (R1-R2) Nitrogen Mass balance

nitrogen origin and fate

tota

l nitr

ogen

(g)

0

20

40

60

80

100

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

input sequestration output excessrecovered

musselcrayfishplant rootsoilplant shoottap waterfishfeedwastewaterexcess sequestered

musselcrayfish plant - below groundsoil plant - above groundtap water fish feed wastewater excess recovered

+ 1 %

+ 4 %

+ 103 %

Fish sequestered 44 % feed nitrogen

Crayfish indirectly sequestered 3 % nitrogen

Culture Wetlands (R1-R2) Phosphorus Mass balance

phosphorus origin and fate

tota

l pho

spho

rus

(g)

02468

101214

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

225

250

275

plant - below groundcrayfish mussel soil plant - above groundtap water fish fish feed wastewater excess recovered

input sequestration output excessrecovered

+ 4 %

+ 101 %

+ 3 %

Fish sequestered 50 % feed bound phosphorus

Crayfish indirectly sequestered 3 % phosphorus

Schoenoplectus validus Wetlands Nitrogen Mass Balance

nitrogen origin and fate

tota

l nit

roge

n (g

)

0123456

75

100

125

150

plant shoot plant root tap watersoilwastewater algaeexcess recovered

input output sequestration excessrecovered

Baumea articulata Wetlands Nitrogen Mass Balance

nitrogen origin and fate

tota

l nit

roge

n (g

)

0123456

25

30

35

40

plant shootplant roottap watersoilswastewateralgaeexcess recovered

input output sequestration excessrecovered

+ 1451 % + 1461 %

+ 10 %

+ 425 %

+ 433 %

+ 8 %

plant - above groundplant - below ground tap watersoilwastewater algaeexcess recovered

plant - above groundplant - below ground tap watersoilwastewater algaeexcess recovered

Buamea articulata Wetlands Phosphorus Mass Balance

phosphorus origin and fate

tota

l pho

spho

rus

(g)

-0.15

0.00

0.15

0.30

0.45

0.60

0.75

0.90

1.05

1.20

1.35

1.50

plant - below groundplant - above groundtap watersoilwastewateralgaenot recovered

input output sequestration not recovered

Schoenoplectus validus Wetlands Phosphorus Mass Balance

phosphorus origin and fate

tota

l pho

spho

rus

(g)

-0.15

0.00

0.15

0.30

0.45

0.60

0.75

0.90

1.05

1.20

1.35

1.50

tap waterplant - above groundplant - below groundsoilwasterwateralgaenot recovered

input output sequestration not recovered

+ 83 %

- 5 %+ 12 %

+ 83 %

- 5 %+ 12 %

Biodiversity

Wetland Litoria fallax density

wetland

frog

m-2

0

1

2

3

4

5

20002002

year

T1 - T3

Schoenoplectus validusT4 - T6

Baumea articulata

R1 - R2

Schoenoplectus validus

Benthic Invertebrate Identification and Density

Invertebrate Family

Pla

norb

idae

Lym

naid

ae

Cae

nida

e

Lib

ellu

lidae

Coe

nagr

ioni

dae

Cor

ixid

ae

Ple

idae

Not

onec

tidae

Vel

iidae

Cer

atop

ogon

idae

Chi

rono

mid

ae

Tab

anid

ae

Cul

icid

ae

Dyt

isci

dae

For

mic

idae

Ara

enae

Ter

re H

emip

tera

indi

vidu

al n

umbe

r pe

r 0.

9 m

2

0

2

4

6

8

20

30

40

50

T1 - T3 Schoenoplectus validusT4 - T6 Baumea articulataR1 - R2 Schoenoplectus validus

Experiment Conclusion

The integrated aquaculture / wetland system…...

Polishing wetland effluent total nitrogen and total phosphorus remained below ANZECC trigger levels roughly 40 % of the time.

● produced three healthy and efficient fish and crayfish harvests

● maintained culture quality water without added resource inputs

● supported local biodiversity

Baumea articulata plants have advantages over Schoenoplectus validus plants.…...

● Biomass production

● Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus sequestration

● canopy shade

● frog density

● able to support red claw in a niche habitat, without direct feed inputs

Integrated Floral Hydroponics - Power Station Wastewater - Aquaculture Wastewater

Experiment 2

Trials 1-3

Leonora Christine

• German hybrid tea rose • Robust, long stemmed, repeat flowering, insect

resistant, highly fragrant, large red flowers.

Pilot Integration

Rose Hydroponics

Power station wastewater (trial 1)

Physical - Hydrological Frameworks

Evaporation Pond Discharge

Aquaculture wastewater (trial 2)

Wastewater

Treatment

flowers per 0.45

m2

growth period(day)

stem length (cm)

flowerdiameter (cm)

vase life (day)

Water use per marketable flower (L)

0 % RO H2O

mean 6.8 49.3 42.0 7.7 5.8 10.1

stdv 1.9 1.8 5.2 0.6 0.1 2.7

50 %

mean 7.0 48.3 45.0 7.6 6.0 10.2

stdv 1.4 1.9 3.9 0.4 0.3 2.0

100 %

mean 8.2 48.5 47.5 7.2 5.9 9.8

stdv 2.6 2.6 1.8 0.6 0.1 2.4

Trial 1 : Power Station Wastewater - Results

growth period(day)

stem length (cm)

flowerdiameter

(cm)

vase life (day)

water use per flower (L)

Treatment 1

mean 35.8 46.3 8.0 5.5 10.8

stdv 1.9 8.9 0.7 0 0.3

Treatment 2

mean 35.8 46.1 8.1 5.0 10.7

stdv 4.0 2.2 0.2 0 0.2

Treatment 3

mean 38.8 37.2 7.6 5.7 10.4

stdv 6.4 3.4 0.3 0 0.0

RO H2O

mean 35.1 46.7 8.1 5.3 10.3

stdv 2.2 4.2 0.2 0 0.5

Trial 2 : Aquaculture Wastewater - Results

ConstructedWetlands

Aquaculture+

Power Station Wastewater

Floral Hydroponics

Multi-Benefit Services

• Wastewater re-use• Floral products

Trial 3 Inter-linkage

• Biodiversity • Carbon sequestration and cycling • Soil and nutrient retention • Direct or indirect water supply• Wetland products / tourism / education• Water quality enhancement• Secondary crop production• Minimal skilled / non-skilled labor• One time investment

Trial 3

Power Station + Aquaculture Wastewater - Results

wastewater treatment

growth period(day)

stem length (cm)

flower dia (cm)

Vase life (d)

Liters (l) % bloom

0 %

mean 53.6 68.1 8.0 6.0 16.7 100.0

stdv 1.0 12.9 1.0 0.0 0.7 0.0

50 %

mean 51.3 66.8 8.0 5.7 16.2 100.0

Stdv 5.4 10.5 0.4 0.3 1.2 0.0

100 %

mean 46.5 62.7 7.2 5.8 16.7 40.0

Stdv 6.9 20.2 0.2 0.4 1.3 54.8

Hydroponic rose culture supported by power station wastewater, aquaculture wastewater, and combined power station / aquaculture wastewater are a viable re-use options as flower growth and quality is not impacted.

Experiment Conclusion

The Model

Baumea articulata and Schoenoplectus validus Polishing Wetlands Light Interception and Biomass Increase

0 500 1000 1500 2000

dry

plan

t bio

mas

s (g

ram

m-2

)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

light interception (MJ m-2)

0 250 500 750 1000

Baumea articulataSchoenoplectus validus

Baumea articulata

Schoenoplectus validus

Seminar Conclusion

Experiments completed suggest that….

1) Re-use of water and wastewater can better support the needs of industrial, agribusiness, and environmental community sectors if integration methods are employed.

2) Wetlands are well suited for integration with aquaculture.

3) Floral hydroponics is a viable wastewater re-use option.

Linkages of Aquaculture - Wetlands - Hydroponics & Linkages of Aquaculture - Wetlands - Hydroponics & Industrial Wastewater in Central Queensland (Australia)Industrial Wastewater in Central Queensland (Australia)

Dr. Brett Roe Central Queensland UniversityPlant Sciences Group Queensland, Australiabreadfish@meee.com.au

Specific growth rate (SGR is relative growth rate (RGR) multiplied by 100):

SGR = RGR x 100 where RGR = [(lnWt – lnW0) / t]Wt = fish fresh weight (g) at harvest;

W0 = fish fresh weight (g) at stocking;t = time.

nitric acid digestion (Tecator digester block) followed by analyses with an Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission System (ICP-OES) against external calibratio