POLYCULTURE AND INTEGRATED TILAPIA

FARMING SYSTEMS

Kevin Fitzsimmons, Cesar Hernandez, Jason Licamele, Rafael Martinez

University of ArizonaKuala Lumpur, Malaysia

November 4, 2009

Global food crisis

Rapidly increasing populationDiversion of foods to bio-fuels Increased costs for water, fertilizer, fuelMultiple demands for farmland (urban

sprawl, industrial and mining, solar and wind generation, wildlife conservation, watershed protection, global warming, etc.)

Need for second generation biofuels

Need new model for food production

Green Revolution – huge increase in food production, but heavy reliance on irrigation, fuel and fertilizer

Blue Revolution – almost 50% of seafood is farm raised, but many environmental impacts (effluents causing eutrophication, algae blooms, cage and raft conflicts with other users in oceans, bays and lakes)

Historical perspectiveTraditional farming around the world integrated

livestock and cropsEast and South Asian farmers have long

tradition of integrating agriculture and aquaculture

Asian sustainable farming systems support huge populations

Fish – vegetable – rice (complex carbohydrate) diet is recommended by most nutrition experts

Historical perspective

Modern agriculture cannot follow Asian model of small-farm integrated systems (gardening)

We need an industrial version merging aqua- and agri- cultures

Taking the best of the Green and Blue Revolutions

Green Revolutions weaknesses are Blue Revolutions needs and vice-versa

1. Fertilizer demand

2. Increase in irrigation

3. Chemical fertilizers pollute groundwater

4. Industrial crops with by-products

1. Aquaculture effluent rich in N and P

2. Fish grow well in irrigation water

3. Fish wastes are slow release, organic

4. Fish feeds need alternatives for fish meal and oil

Tropical Inland Integrated SystemTilapia oil palm, rice, sugar cane

Tilapia and citrus in Hainan, China

Arid Integrated Systems

Tilapia Grapes, wheat, olives, barley, sorghum, cotton, melons, peppers

Safford, AZ Marana, AZ

Desert Springs Tilapia, Hyder AZ

Gila Farms, AZ

Tilapia/koi/catfish to cotton/barley irrigation

small pond (not to scale)

siphon>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(Larger Pond) - not to scale Fish Pond

TilapiaFloating Cages

PUMP

Road

IRRIGATION PIPES 15 ft

Barley Barley Barley Barley(Cotton) (Cotton) (Cotton) (Cotton)

Road

Wel

l

160

ft

W.W

.

F.E.

+ S

.F.

F.E.

W.W

+ S

.F.

F.E.

+ S

.F.

W.W

. + S

.F.

F.E.

W.W

.

W.W

. + S

.F.

F.E.

W.W

.

F.E.

+ S

.F.

F.E.

W.W

.

W.W

. + S

.F.

F.E.

+ S

.F.

101

102

103

104

201

202

203

204

301

302

303

304

401

402

403

404

Road

Data report – Tilapia effluents irrigating cotton

Water pH reduced from 8.3 to 8.0Added 19.7 kg/ha total N during one crop.

0

5

10

15

20

25

AprilM

ayJu

neJu

ly

August

Septem

berTot

al N

app

lied

with

wat

er (k

g/ha

)

WellPond

Results - Integration of aquaculture and agriculture

Contributed 2.6 kg/ha P to crop.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

AprilM

ayJu

neJu

ly

August

Septem

berTot

al P

app

lied

with

wat

er (k

g/ha

)

WellPond

Tilapia and barley study

Arid Integrated Systems

Tilapia cages to cotton Tilapia to hydroponicsAk Chin, AZ University of Arizona

AquaponicsTilapia and

lettuce

RESULTSEffluent nutrient values

0.07 mg/L NH3, 0.321 mg/L NO2, 21.2 mg/L NO3, 0.17 mg/L total P

Fertilizer value about 43 kg/ha N and 0.34 kg/ha P

Olives with aquaculture effluentOlives with well water

Olive Tree Height Over Time

11.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.8

Mar-

02

Ap

r-0

2

May

-02

Jun

-02

Jul-

02

Au

g-0

2

Sep

-02

Oct-

02

No

v-0

2

Dec-0

2

Jan

-03

Feb

-03

Mar-

03

Ap

r-0

3

May

-03

Jun

-03

Jul-

03

Au

g-0

3

Sep

-03

Oct-

03

No

v-0

3

Dec-0

3

Jan

-04

Feb

-04

Heig

ht

(m)

Effluent Fertilizer Well Water

Data report -Olives irrigated with effluent

Use of Tilapia/shrimp sludge as a soil amendment for tomatoes

Chad KingEnvironmental Research Lab

University of Arizona

Research Design Collected and dried fresh sludge from a

tilapia/shrimp farm in western Arizona, USA Treatments of 5, 10 and 20% sludge application by

volume, 402, 805 and 1,610 g/plant Mechanically mixed shrimp sludge and potting soil

mix (concrete sand, mulch, vermiculite) Randomly transplanted and arranged 28 ‘Roma’

tomato starts in a greenhouse, one plant per pot Each plant received 4 L of water daily, over four

applications by drip irrigation Response measured in mass of tomatoes produced

Tilapia / shrimp sludge characteristics

Sample Total N

% dry matter

Total PO4-P

% dry matter

Total K

% dry matter

NO3-N

µg/g

Olsen P

µg/g

Soluble K

µg/g

EC

dS/m

1 0.13 0.10 0.23 1497.4 22.60 27.3

2 0.48 0.21 0.20 4.36 73.50 53.6 8.5

Total N, PO4-P and K show total plant macronutrients

NO3-N, Olsen P and soluble K show plant available nutrients

EC provides a measurement of soil salinity

Tomato Production

Treatment Tomato Mass (g/plant)

SEM

0% (Control) 39.2a 11.54

5%402 g/plant

65.1a 11.14

10%805 g/plant

141.1b 20.73

20%1,620 g/plant

113.6b 19.9

Different superscripts indicate a significant difference, p<0.05

Results

Applications of 10% and 20% increased plant production

Land application will benefit crop production while providing a disposal mechanism

Soil salinity must be monitoredSludge is highly variable, depending

on pond management

Coastal Integrated SystemsShrimp / tilapia Halophytes and seaweeds

Shrimp/tilapia and edible seaweeds

Data report - Daily growth rates of Gracilaria with effluent over 4 weeks

0123456789

10

In effluentchannel

Transferredto ocean

Chemicalfertilizer

Not fertilzed

% g

row

th p

er d

ay

Tilapia-shrimp-halophytes Eritrea

Shrimp and tilapia ponds

Mangroves

Salicornia

Salicornia

Mangroves

Shrimp and Salicornia (halophyte)

Tilapia – shrimp – seaweed polyculture in Indonesia

Gracilaria

Shrimp

Tilapia

Polyculture tilapia/shrimp/algae aquaculture

Algae represent the largest aquaculture crop on global basisAlgae are a major component

of diet in Asia and Pacific cuisineAlgae are a growing sector for

niche markets in the US

KAB. ACEH BESAR (3.450) Ha

KAB. ACEH PIDIE (5.073) Ha

KAB. BIREUN(6.710) Ha

Demonstration ponds stocked with Gracilaria

Aceh Besar

Initial stocks from Ohama corporate farm (1000 kg) brought to Sumatra

Material loaded from farm Fresh material

Gracilaria distributed into ponds

Workshops and training

Field visits to farmers

Brackish water tilapia – seaweedsFish cage effluents (feed and feces) fertilize seaweed

Fresh Gracilaria from the tilapia/shrimp pond

ConclusionsOur planet has limited water resources and

we should embrace multiple use and generate at least two crops from each drop

Integrated aquaculture – agriculture is sustainable and profitable