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Keep Going, Keep Growing...

With an eye on the future, we are planning ahead to reduce our impact on the environment and the quality of plants we propagate here at Propgrowth.

With this in mind and the current draught that is effecting not only our region but the entire agricultural community across the country, we realise that drastic measures needs to be taken to reduce water consumption where ever possible.

Our researchers here at Propgrowth are currently investigating the possibility of implementing aquaponics systems in your propagation methods and green houses. 

Aquaponics:
Aquaponics is a relatively new agricultural practice that combines the sectors of aquaculture and agriculture into a single functioning system.

In short, the cycle starts in a fish tank. The fish are fed and defecate in the water. This nutrient rich water is constantly being drained out of the tank and being replaced by new fresh water. The water passes through a filter to catch all the solids and then enters the growing beds with a well-draining and aerated growing-medium. The growing beds gradually fill with water, but once it reached a certain level, a special vacuum is triggered and the water drains rapidly into a smaller tank. This gradual filling and rapid releasing of water, along with special characteristics of the growing medium ensures that the roots are well aerated and prevents root rot. The water is then pumped back into the fish tank and the cycle starts all over again.  Figure 2 shows a systematic overview of a basic aquaponics system.

Figure 1
Common growing medium include Hydrothon, expanded shale, aquarium gravel, drainage gravel and synthetic aquaponics grow media (petroleum based plastic).

Another popular method used to propagate leafy greens like littuce is the use of water baths in stead of the growing medium (Figure 2). There are however limitations on the types of plants one can propagate vio this method, as plants can easily suffer from root rot. Plants that are suited for this method needs to be carefully selected.

Figure 2: Lettuce being grown in water baths, rather than a growing
medium like soil.
We chose to investigate the possibility of using aquaponics in our green houses as it is a very effective system. Research has shown that it can use so little as 5% of the water normal agricultural methods use, the entire system is also driven by gravity, except for the pumps that pump the water back into the fish tank, and the pump that aerates the water. Another advantage of using this system is it eliminates the use of fertilizer in the green house, as the water gets fertilized naturally by the fish.

Research has also shown that the plants can be harvested earlier with the use of this method. The use of edible fish can also serves as an income by selling then to restaurants or can be given to the community, as we believe it is important to give back and support the community. 

Aquaponics systems are normally associated with the propagation of leafy greens, but we here at aquaponics believe it is our duty to investigate the possibility of drastically reducing our impact on the environment. 


We hope and believe that others will follow in our footsteps and help make the a difference in the negative impact that agriculture can have on the environment and the issue that is climate change.





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