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EVEC Microgreens
Integrating Aquaponics with Macrobrachium amazonicum (Palaemonidae: Decapoda) Cultivation for the Production of Microgreens: A Sustainable Approach
The use of aquaponic systems has grown in recent years, but few of these systems have integrated the production of prawns and short-cycle vegetables. This
Sávio Guerreiro, João Francisco Garcez Cabral Júnior, Bruno José Corecha Fernandes Eiras, Bruna dos Santos Miranda, Priscila Caroline Alves Lopes, Nuno Filipe Alves Correia de Melo, Ronald Kennedy Luz, Fábio Carneiro Sterzelecki, Glauber David Almeida Palheta
AgriEngineering · 2024 · https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering6030158
Abstract
The use of aquaponic systems has grown in recent years, but few of these systems have integrated the production of prawns and short-cycle vegetables. This study evaluated the potential for producing microgreens (beet, amaranth, arugula, and red cabbage) integrated with Amazon River prawns (Macrobrachium amazonicum) in an aquaponic system. Four seeding densities (5, 10, 15, or 20 seeds/cell) were assessed in two treatments: one using prawn wastewater and the other using plain dechlorinated water (control). Water quality, prawn growth performance, and microgreen productivity were monitored over 13 days, revealing optimal conditions for both prawns and microgreens in the aquaponic system. Amaranthus paniculatus yielded 374.00 g/m2 in prawn wastewater compared to 231.34 g/m2 in the control, while Beta vulgaris produced 1734.39 g/m2 in wastewater versus 1127.69 g/m2 in the control. Similarly, Brassica oleracea (2180.69 g/m2) and Eruca sativa (2109.46 g/m2) had higher yields in the prawn aquaponics system. These findings demonstrate that integrating prawn cultivation in aquaponic systems significantly enhances microgreen production compared to traditional methods. This integrated approach not only improves yields but also offers a more sustainable production model. Significant variation in productivity and growth metrics among species treatments underscores the viability and need for more systematic aquaponic procedures.
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How to credit this work
Sávio Guerreiro; João Francisco Garcez Cabral Júnior; Bruno José Corecha Fernandes Eiras; Bruna dos Santos Miranda; Priscila Caroline Alves Lopes; Nuno Filipe Alves Correia de Melo; Ronald Kennedy Luz; Fábio Carneiro Sterzelecki; Glauber David Almeida Palheta (2024). Integrating Aquaponics with Macrobrachium amazonicum (Palaemonidae: Decapoda) Cultivation for the Production of Microgreens: A Sustainable Approach. AgriEngineering. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering6030158 Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Hosted by EVEC Athens (microgreens.org.gr). No changes were made to this article. Provided as-is, without warranties. EVEC Athens is not affiliated with, and this copy is not endorsed by, the authors or the publisher.
Explore this on our site
- How to grow it: Amaranth microgreens — growing guide
- How to grow it: Arugula microgreens — growing guide
- How to grow it: Beetroot microgreens — growing guide
- How to grow it: Red Cabbage microgreens — growing guide
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