| Hydroponics, Aquaculture, and Aquaponics: An Introduction and References Brought to you by Maya Neem Farms at Rancho Santa Cruz, Panaba, Yucatán www.Green Planet Blue Sea.com The Official Website for Maya Neem Farms, Yucatan, Mexico A Model Neem Plantation, in Progress, for Profitable, Integrated, Sustainable and Ecologically Balanced Rural Development Systems, Renewable Land, Sea and Water Use, and Resource Conservation |
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| Let´s start with Hydroponics, also known as Hydroculture , move on to Aquaculture, and then see how the two come together and where all of this is going by looking at "Aquaponics" Hydroponics from Wikipedia: Hydroponics (from the Greek words hydro water and ponos labor) is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, or coconut husk. Researchers discovered in the 19th century that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics. Hydroponics is also a standard technique in biology research and teaching. Please Click Here to see the entire article. Most systems recycle the solution and make small amendments to it, this saves money and reduces the amount of water that is lost (as opposed to regular farming techniques). Hydroponics provides plants (normally one plant type per closed system) with the optimal chemicals required for optimal yield in the shortest period of time. The chemical composition of the nutrient solution is carefully monitored to adjust the pH and compensate for any nutrients that are taken up by the plant; as well as to add water to ensure the concentration of nutrients remains constant. During the circulation of the solution care oxygen is introduced into it. This ensures that the plants receive oxygenated nutrients and that the solution does not stagnate. Hydroponics is used extensively for the commercial production of vegetables (such as lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, etc.) and cut flowers (roses, carnations etc.). At Maya Neem Farms, our main interest will be in the production of the world famous, high demand, Yucatecan Habanero Chile, several other prized and experimental chile varieties, and tomatoes. Please CLICK HERE for our page on "High Tech, High Production Chiles" on this site. It is a page in progress but we think you will find of interest. |
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| Aquaculture from Wikipedia Aquaculture is the farming of freshwater and saltwater organisms such as finfish, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic plants.[1][2] Also known as aquafarming, aquaculture involves cultivating aquatic populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish.[3] Commercial aquaculture supplies one half of the fish and shellfish that is directly consumed by humans.[4] Please CLICK HERE to review this important and foundational article. Having at least a basic understanding of the information contained therein is essential to appreciating and comprehending (IE. taking full advantage) of this entire page. To save time and the copying of the information and resources contained in Wikipedia´s fine work we will continue here assuming that you have done so. Thanks. The impact and growing demand associated with aquaculture globally can be further appreciated in the following article entitled " A World without Seafood: It´s closer than you think" Excellent and informative except that the author must have had a cerebral episode when he hailed George W. Bush as an avid and important "environmentalist president" when in fact, the United States never had a more disastrous presidency from an environmental perspective. Click Here for the Article which is nevertheless well worth reading despite the author´s temporary loss of consciousness. Photos Right: Shots from a client´s Tilapia farm currently on sale. For futher information on the Tilapia please see the Tilapia related page links at the bottom of our Home Page. Apart from sustainable profits to be made from the growing and selling of Tilapia and other fish and creatures that live in fresh and sea water, the added benefit of land based operations is that they do not pollute lakes and seas and in fact the runoff from the tanks can be collected then distributed as organic fertilizer either to field grown crops through drip irrigation systems and/or as organic nutritional solution used in hydroponic gardening and commercial operations. In both cases each type of operation is supported by the other, money is saves , and the use of chemical and usually toxic as well as expensive nutrients are eliminated. This farm to the right, with only 17 tanks can fertilize up to 40 hectares of crops and probably double that in a reforestation operation. 10% of each tank is drained, twice daily and the runoff , including semi-solid waste is carried off to a holding tank from which it is later dispersed. Aquaponics As noted above, nutrient rich runoff from land-based, fresh-water aquaculture operations can be routed into and used as nutrient solution for hydroponicaly grown fruits, vegitables, flowers, and other plants. This process is called "Aquaponics" and, as noted above results from combining Aquaculture with hydroponics, a truly brilliant combination. To give you an in context sense of some of the possibilities, a peak into the future, if you will, we invite you to read the following brief, yet inspiring article entitled: "Aquaculture: Making Urban Farming Scalable With Fish" From Wikipedia, "Aquaponics" is defined as: "The symbiotic cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment." (Click Here to read the whole page) Aquatic animal effluent (for example fish waste) accumulates in water as a by-product of keeping them in a closed system or tank (for example a recirculating aquaculture system). The effluent-rich water becomes high in plant nutrients but this is correspondingly toxic to the aquatic animal. Plants are grown in a way (for example a hydroponic system) that enables them to utilize the nutrient-rich water. The plants take up the nutrients, reducing or eliminating the water's toxicity for the aquatic animal. The water, now clean, is returned to the aquatic animal environment and the cycle continues. Aquaponic systems do not discharge or exchange water. The systems rely on the relationship between the aquatic animals and the plants to maintain the environment. Water is only added to replace water loss from absorption by the plants, evaporation into the air, or the removal of biomass from the system. Aquaponic systems vary in size from small indoor units to large commercial units. They can use fresh or salt water depending on the type of aquatic animal and vegetation. _____________________________________________________________ Sustainable, synergistic, non-chemical based, organic systems of production with higher, healthier yields while lowering dramatically costs of production and health risks for workers, consumers, and the physical environment near and long term. However one measures success we think this technology offers great hope and intelligent and profitable investment possibilities |
Hydroponic Chile Farm, Panaba,
Yucatán. 1/2 Hectare enclosure
Yucatán. 1/2 Hectare enclosure
Please CLICK HERE to see details
of this project on this site
of this project on this site
Shown here at 23 days from transplant,
these chiles will reach 5m in height
these chiles will reach 5m in height
