TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF AN AQUAPONIC SYSTEM FOR ANIMAL FORAGE PRODUCTION

Abstract

The union of aquaculture with hydroponics results in aquaponics. This integration of the two production systems, fish and vegetables, allows the reuse of water, reducing pollution as well as costs and increasing efficiency in food production. The aim of this work was to evaluate the technical feasibility of producing hydroponic corn and an aquaponics system aiming at the production of animal forage. Forage can serve as food supplementation for various animal species, especially in dry periods of the year, when natural pasture becomes scarce. Corn is a widely used cereal because it has good yield and good acceptability to animals. The production system can be used all year round and can be deployed in any region of the country. In regions with low water availability, the quality and quantity of forage available during the drought is fundamental for many farmers, such as in subsistence livestock. The production of corn for forage in an aquaponic system can be considered an ecological technique, as it does not use chemical inputs. The system is simple and the production cost is low, it has high productivity with short and continuous cycles, generating quick results. In aquaponics, several species of fish can be used, with tilapia being widely used due to its rusticity and climate adaptation. This food production technique can reduce water consumption by up to 90% and promote the full reuse of the effluent generated within the system itself, in addition to producing healthy food and adding income to the small producer.