Aquaculture America 2024

February 18 - 21, 2024

San Antonio, Texas

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OKRA Abelmoschus esculentus GROWN IN FLOODED MEDIA BEDS AND DEEP WATER CULTURE AQUAPONICS SYSTEMS: AND THE EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITY ON GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE

H. Knuckles*a , R . Lochmanna , A.Sinhaa ,  C. Websterb , D . A. Pereraa

aAquaculture & Fisheries  Center of Excellence, School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, 1200 North University Drive, Pine Bluff, AR, 71601

bUSDA-ARS Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center (SNARC), 2955 Hwy. 130 East, Stuttgart, AR 72160

 



 Aquaponic  growing systems integrate  aquaculture and hydroponic  techniques  through a  symbiotic relationship between fish, plants, and nitrifying bacteria ,  resulting in the ability  to produce plants and fish in a single system. T hese systems have been shown to be advantageous for certain crops as they require less space, water resources , and  provide a controlled  growing environment. 

 In  summer 2023 ,  Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)  was grown  for 12 weeks  in a greenhouse  utilizing two kinds of aquaponic growing systems:  six deep-water culture systems using  floating rafts, and six flood-and-drain systems  with  expanded clay substrate. A plant density treatment was also included in the study for each growing system: high density (18 plants) or low density (12 plants) in a 2 x 2 factorial design .  Nile tilapia (Ore ochromis niloticus)  were stocked  at equal densities (40 equally sized fish) per system and fed to satiation with a commercial diet (32% protein, 6% lipids) daily .  Data on fruit production , leaf, stem and stalk growth, and  root development was collected along with mineral analysis data  on  the fruits, leaves, stems, stalks, and roots to determine the effect of the culture system  and plant density on the  performance of Okra  in aquaponic systems. 

Preliminary analysis of the data indicates that  fruit production and growth  of O kra appears to be  superior in flood-and- drain systems with  clay substrate relative to  Okra grown in  deep-water culture systems. I t also appears that density did not affect the growth and performance  of Okra in either culture system.