Survival, growth, and yield of chia (Salvia hispanica), red bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in an aquaponics system

Abstract

Aquaponics is a technology that integrates hydroponic agriculture and aquaculture for the purpose of producing food. In Guatemala, information has been generated on the survival and production of some plant species in aquaponic systems. However, the survival, growth, and productivity of a combined chia and red bean crop with tilapia farming is unknown or has not been evaluated. In this regard, an NFT aquaponics model was designed with 40 chia (Salvia hispanica) and red bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants and 25 tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Data on the bean plants were collected in seven samples, and in the case of chia, this was extended to eight samples every fifteen days over a period of 120 days. The chia and bean plants adapted, grew, and produced in the aquaponic system. In the case of chia plants, a survival rate of 80% and a height of X = 87.9 cm ± 38.19 were obtained, and for red bean plants, the survival rate was 85% with a height of X = 59.7 cm ± 11.5. The average seed production of chia was 3.1 g ± 2.0 and that of red beans was 23.4 g ± 16.3 per plant. Tilapia grew in the aquaponic system. An average weight of 61.6 g ± 29.2 and a survival rate of 72% were obtained. It is concluded that the combination of chia, red beans, and tilapia represents an interesting option for products in the Guatemalan agricultural sector.