The Effect of Planting Media on Growth and Yield of Red Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L) in Aquaponic System

Abstract

. Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics technology application to rearing fish and plants by utilizing recirculation systems. Waste produced by fish such as food and metabolic waste (feces and urine) can use as fertilizer for plants-the water which contains food and metabolic waste furthermore flowing to planting media and plant absorption the nutrient so the water quality can reuse for fish culture. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of planting media on the growth and yield of red lettuce plants in aquaponics. Design experiment use nested completely randomized design. The data analysis using ANOVA, and the Duncan Multiple Range Test. The experiment consists of 3 treatments and nine replications. Media planting are rice husk charcoal, zeolite, and cocopeat. The results showed that the rice husk charcoal and zeolite substrate significantly affects number of leaves, fresh weight, and dry weight compared to cocopeat media. The red lettuce using zeolite as planting medium showed that higher growth of plant compared to plants with other types of substrate medium