Hydroponics 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.
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.
Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system that combines a traditional
aquaculture (raising fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics in a
symbiotic environment.
The basic principle of aquaponics is as follows:Fish and plants are grown in a symbiotic
balance.
Wastes from the fish provide nutrients
for the plants, and in turn the plants
filter the water for the fish.
Plant off cuts can then be composted in
wormeries to provide food for the fish
and so the cycle continues....
Crops are constantly harvested and the
system feeds and waters itself in a
sustainable ecosystem approach to food
production.
Surround the system with a greenhouse, add ladybirds and other
beneficial insects and a microcosm is born.
Aquaponic systems vary in size
from small indoor or outdoor units
to large commercial units, using
the same technology. Aquaponics
is ideal for schools, community
projects, household self sufficiency
and if scaled up, for commercially
viable mixed crop food production.
Aquaponics UK
Aquaponic science is still at an early stage. Stirling University Institute of
Aquaculture and its partners have set up Aquaponics UK as a not for profit social
enterprise, providing support for the development of aquaponics.
Its aim is to facilitate the development of aquaponics, through linking academic
research institutions with people on the ground practicing, or wishing to practice
aquaponics. The fundamental goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to
start developing their own systems either for domestic consumption, education
or commercial production.
Aquaponics UK has a contact database of people and groups in the UK, working
with Aquaponics and related disciplines. They can help with advice on designing
and operating systems and with applying for government and third sector
funding, the supply of complete systems for commercial, household and
educational purposes
http://www.aquaponics.org.uk
Case study - The Able Project, Wakefield
The ABLE project is a social enterprise based on a former landfill site in
Wakefield. The scheme combines the production of fish and horticultural produce
with a unique outdoor learning facility, training young people in horticulture,
aquaculture and environmental skills.
The outdoor learning facility is targeted at young people whose needs are not
met in mainstream education, as well as community service participants.
How we grow
At ABLE we grow organically on a rich soil derived from
composted sludges provided by Yorkshire Water. The
sludges are a fantastic source of nutrients for plants and
when composted properly and used appropriately pose no
risk to human or animal health. This practise has enabled
what was a brown fields, bare earth and rubble site only 5 years ago to
transform into a hub for wildlife: Huge numbers of birds, insects, reptiles and
mammals are spotted on site throughout the year and increasing all the time.
Aquaponics
We are also trialling the use of aquaponics to grow certain crops in closed loop
systems. We float plants on mats to help us clean and filter the water coming
from the fish tanks; they absorb the nutrients provided by the fish waste so they
can grow successfully in water. Aquaponics UK designed, supplied, helped build,
and commissioned the aquaponics greenhouse systems as well as providing
training and continued support.
What we grow
Our allotments produce all year. Winter vegetables make way for spring cabbage
which in turn gives way to beans, broccoli, potatoes and sweetcorn, before the
year is seen off with pumpkins, parsnips, sprouts and leeks heralding the arrival
of winter.
We are able to grow heat loving plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers and
peppers inside our greenhouses and herbs and watercress in the aquaponics
systems alongside the fish.
We offer veggie boxes from the site office and also supply a number of local
companies with fresh produce to use in cafes, food co-ops and catering
organisations.
Willow coppice
It is a long standing ambition of the ABLE project to be self-sufficient for our
winter fuel needs. Temperature maintenance in winter is vital for our fish and we
use a biomass boiler to convert woodchip into heat in the furnace. We still rely
on a supply of willow from other sites at the moment, but are working towards
self-sufficiency with our 3 year old willow plantation on site which is getting
stronger every year.
http://www.theableproject.org.uk