Comparison of Cherry Tomato Cultivation in Koi-Based Aquaponics and Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponics

Background and objective: Aquaponics, which integrates aquaculture and hydroponics, has emerged as a sustainable approach to crop production. However, evaluations of its efficacy compared to traditional nutrient solutions remain insufficient, particularly for the cultivation of fruit vegetables, which have high nutritional demands. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of a koi (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus)-based recirculating aquaponic system on the growth characteristics of cherry tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.).Methods: A recirculating aquaponic system with biofiltration was established, stocked with 150 koi fed extruded pellets six times per week. Cherry tomato plants were cultivated in a sixteen-row nutrient film technique hydroponic system using rock wool, with eight rows supplied with aquaponic effluent and eight rows with conventional nutrient solution. Two treatment groups were compared: a hydroponics group and an aquaponics group, each with 33 plants. Growth parameters were recorded twice before transplanting, and then weekly for eight weeks post-transplantation. Parameters recorded included plant height, leaf characteristics, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, and fruit quality traits. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) was performed to assess the effects of treatment and time on plant growth. Fruit quality parameters, including soluble solids content and acidity, were compared between groups using independent samples t-tests.Results: Plant growth parameters showed significant effects of time and treatment (RM-ANOVA, p < .001). The aquaponics group exhibited greater early vegetative growth, including increased leaf width and higher chlorophyll content during the mid-growth stage (p < .001). However, reproductive growth and fruit set were significantly lower in the aquaponics group (p < .001). Hydroponically grown fruits showed higher soluble solids (4.29 ± 0.57 °Brix) and titratable acidity (0.77 ± 0.32%) compared with the aquaponics group (3.79 ± 0.49 °Brix; 0.52 ± 0.17%) (p < .001).Conclusion: The koi-based aquaponic system exhibited distinct effects on cherry tomato plants performance compared with nutrient solution hydroponics, enhancing vegetative traits while limiting reproductive outcomes. These results highlight the need for targeted nutrient supplementation and system design improvements to optimize aquaponics for fruit crop production.