Aquaculture America 2024

February 18 - 21, 2024

San Antonio, Texas

GROWTH RATE OF EASTERN WHITE CEDAR IN AQUAPONICS VERSUS SOIL

Margaret J. Lawrence*, Barbara I. Evans

School of Science and Medicine

Lake Superior State University

Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783

mlawrence3@lssu.edu

 



 Silviculture and aquaponics are novel topics that have been intriguing scientists and foresters alike. In theory, by combining the two disciplines, pre-existing fish hatcheries could add on an aquaponics system to reduce excess nutrients: thereby reducing eutrophication in local waterways while growing saplings for multiple purposes. The nutrient waste will potentially grow saplings faster than  in conventional agriculture, giving them a competitive advantage. These saplings could be used for forest restoration purposes or landscaping, thus i ncreasing the number of native trees in landscaping, and restoring natural habitats.

 In a preliminary study conducted last year, Eastern White Cedar saplings were successfully sprouted from seed, using only damp paper towels and a grow light. Seedlings were transferred into a deep water culture system (DWC) and grown for approximately 8 months before being transferred to soil. The saplings thrived in the deep water culture system and are now successfully thriving in soil. However, there was a large variation in size of saplings, possibly because half of the sprouts were transferred into the DWC system later than the other half.  Two of these saplings were transplanted  in  front of the Native American Center on campus at Lake Superior State University in September 2023.

The  study  was continued  in February 2023,  this time with consistent planting schedules and control groups , to compare stem growth rates between  aquaponically grown and soil grown saplings.  The aquaponics saplings were grown in a DWC with no added media, leaving the roots floating . Whereas the soil grown saplings were in 10 inch pots with Black Gold soil . Soil a nd water chemistry and stem height were recorded  every two weeks .  Both sample groups received the same environmental conditions. P reliminary results show a higher survival rate in  aquaponics compared to soil.  Overall, combining silviculture with aquaculture has potential benefits for protecting the aquatic environment and creating a new field of aquaponics.