Effects of foliar and root application of epsom salt on aquaponics beetroot (Beta vulgaris) production in confined condition

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of epsom salt, rich in magnesium and sulfur content beneficial to plant, on beetroot production in aquaponics system. Media based aquaponics systems (nine units) were employed for beetroot and tilapia culture where three treatments T1, T2 and T0 were applied with three replications (R1, R2, and R3) each. Epsom salt was applied in T1 as foliar spray in the form of 5% solution in each replication, whereas same amount of epsom salt (5 g) was directly applied on vegetable bed in T2 as root application. But in control (T0) no epsom salt was used. Beetroot saplings were planted in retrospect at a rate of two saplings per growbed (replication). After thirty days, plants grew enough to support the water clarification in aquaponics, ten tilapia fry were stocked per tank (90 L) in each replication. Fish were fed commercial floating feed containing 30% protein. Although the fish growth parameters in three treatments were statistically similar, the highest mean length gain, weight gain, specific growth rate and fish production were found 5.11±1.64 cm, 30.16±0.11 g, 0.39±0.01 %/day and 26.27±2.47 tons/ha/60 days respectively in T1 followed by T2 and T0. However, response of beetroots to different treatments was statistically different. The highest average leaf area (69.79 ± 0.48 cm2), length of root (31.03±0.43 cm), weight of root (21.17±1.92 g), and production of beetroot 8.67±1.54 tons/ha/90 days were found in T1 followed by T2 and T0. Harvesting time was also reduced in epsom salt based aquaponics system. The overall production of beetroot and tilapia was higher in T1 (foliar spray) than T2 (root application) and T0 (control). Thus, the study signifies the potentialities of epsom salt in aquaponics vegetable production. However, further research is needed to verify the dose response to epsom salt in aquaponics system.
 Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2020, 6(1): 56-66

Dietary effect of moringa (Moringa oleifera; Lamarck, 1785) leaf powder on growth response of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus; Linnaeus, 1758)

“…However, low FCR value in MLP 10% in the present study indicated high fish efficiency in utilizing the feed consumed. Akter et al (2020) reported similar FCR (2.98 to 3.68) to the present study where they reared tilapia in tank.…”

“…Water temperature is a very crucial parameter for fish to maintain normal physiological process in body and it strongly affects aquaculture production (Akter et al, 2020;Boyd, 2017). During present experiment, the water temperature was fluctuated throughout the study ranging from 23.54 to 31.17°C (Figure 5a) and the mean values were statistically similar among the treatments (p> 0.05) (Table 4).…”

“…Nadia et al (2020) found that, EC of underground freshwater used for culture was 747.0 µs cm -1 . Moreover, Akter et al (2020) found noted 1302.33±187.79 to 1521.00±59.40 µs cm -1 during an experiment of aquaponics using tilapia.…”

“…Makori et al (2017) found DO 10.6±8.4 mg L -1 during tilapia culture. Akter et al (2020) reported that, continuous use of air pump during fish culture enhances dissolved oxygen which increased up to 8.2 mg L -1 .…”