Nutrient Content and Quality of Fish Cultivation Media in Monoculture and Aquaponic Systems

Abstract Aquaponics is an integrated cultivation system which combines growing vegetable and fish to increase productivity, profitability and resource use efficiency. This study aims to determine the nutrients content and also the water quality in cultivation pond with catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) in both monocultures and aquaponics systems. This study was conducted in monoculture system with 40 fish (M0), aquaponic system with 40 fish (M1), 60 fish (M2) and 80 fish (M3). The parameters of nutrient content and water quality observed in this study include Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) content, dissolved oxygen content, temperature, electrical conductivity, and pH. The results showed that the NPK content in the monoculture system was higher than the aquaponic system, there was a decrease in NPK content in the aquaponic system with increasing fish population. The soluble oxygen in both monoculture and aquaponic systems had similar values at 40 fish (M1), temperature and electrical conductivity in the aquaponic is higher than in either monoculture system, but pH is relatively similar in both cultivation methods.