R.M.U. Rathnayaka, S. Sutharsan, M.A.P. Mayakaduwa, P. Weerasinghe
{"title":"Growth and Yield Performance of Lactuca sativa L. Grown in Hydroponics using Fish Effluents and Inorganic Fertilizer","authors":"R.M.U. Rathnayaka, S. Sutharsan, M.A.P. Mayakaduwa, P. Weerasinghe","doi":"10.9734/ajraf/2024/v10i2281","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajraf/2024/v10i2281","url":null,"abstract":"Aquaponics is an emerging sustainable food production technique where waste from fish culture is used as a source of nutrients for crops grown in hydroponics system. The present study was conducted at the Agriculture Research and Development Center, Sita Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka during November 2015 to January 2016, to compare the yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in hydroponics using fish effluents and inorganic fertilizer. The experiment was laid in a Completely Randomized Design with 5 treatments and 4 replicates. The different nutrient solutions used as the treatments of this experiment were water (T1), Albert’s solution (T2), Catla waste water (T3), Common Carp waste water (T4) and Tilapia waste water (T5). Each nutrient solution was tested for its nutrient composition, temperature, pH and electrical conductivity throughout the experimental period. The plant growth and yield parameters measured were plant height (cm), number of leaves, canopy diameter (cm), root length (cm), fresh weight of plant, leaves and roots (g), dry weight of leaves and roots (g) and, yield (ton/ha). The fish related parameters measured were body weight (g), initial and final stocking density (g/m3) and the mortality percentage. The results showed that T2 stood out (p<0.05) with the highest plant height (12.27cm), canopy diameter (14.80cm), number of leaves (12) and root length (15.04cm), exhibiting a vigorous growth compared to the other treatments. A remarkable yield and shoot and root weight (fresh and dry) were also shown by T2 over the other treatments. Fish waste water in T3, T4 and T5 did not fulfill the nutrient requirement of lettuce due to the limited nutrients; nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) produced by fingerlings. Therefore, these fish waste solutions need to be improved by increasing the feed quality and selecting fish within a suitable age range in order to obtain a yield comparable to T2, which is the commercially available Albert’s solution.","PeriodicalId":503926,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140377615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development: A Comprehensive Review","authors":"Sujan Bhandari, Bishnu Yadav, Pawan Kumar Yadav, Vivek Lahutiya, Sudip Koirala","doi":"10.9734/ajraf/2024/v10i1271","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajraf/2024/v10i1271","url":null,"abstract":"Agroecology, as an interdisciplinary field, integrates ecological principles into agricultural systems to promote sustainability. This paper examines the pivotal role of agroecological approaches in fostering sustainable agriculture and rural development. Initially concentrated on enhancing crop productivity and resilience, agroecology has evolved to encompass broader dimensions, including environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic viability. By emphasizing the sustainable use of resources and adopting diverse strategies, agroecology addresses contemporary challenges in agricultural production. This review synthesizes existing literature on the fundamental concepts and principles of agroecology, highlighting its profound implications for sustainable agriculture and rural development. By exploring agroecological approaches at various scales, from plot-level interventions to systemic changes within the food system, this paper underscores the critical linkage between agroecology and the pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices and rural prosperity.","PeriodicalId":503926,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140441782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}