The Effect of Anaerobic and Aerobic Fish Sludge Supernatant on Hydroponic Lettuce

Simon Goddek*, Zala Schmautz, Ben Scott, Boris Delaide, Karel Keesman, Sven Wuertz, Ranka Junge*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The mobilization of nutrients from fish sludge (i.e., feces and uneaten feed) plays a key role in optimizing the resource utilization and thus in improving the sustainability of aquaponic systems. While several studies have documented the aerobic and anaerobic digestion performance of aquaculture sludge, the impact of the digestate on plant growth has yet to be understood. The present study examines the impact of either an aerobic or an anaerobic digestion effluent on lettuce plant growth, by enriching a mixture of aquaculture and tap water with supernatants from both aerobic and anaerobic batch reactors. The lettuce plants grown in the hydroponic system supplied with supernatant from an anaerobic reactor had significantly better performance with respect to weight gain than both, those in the system where supernatant from the aerobic reactor was added, as well as the control system. It can be hypothesized that this effect was caused by the presence of NH4+ as well as dissolved organic matter, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and fungi, and humic acid, which are predominantly present in anaerobic effluents. This study should therefore be of value to researchers and practitioners wishing to further develop sludge remineralization in aquaponic systems.
Original languageEnglish
Article number37
JournalAgronomy
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Aerobic digestion
  • Anaerobic digestion
  • Aquaponics
  • Bio-fertilizer
  • Horticulture
  • Hydroponics
  • Integrated aquaculture
  • Sludge

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