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Recent Developments in Aquaponics at Crop Diversification Centre South | |
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An extensive study during the project duration from 2002 till 2007 demonstrated the technical feasibility of aquaponics technology under Alberta growing conditions. More than 60 different crops and varieties were tested in the greenhouse. Production trials for 24 crops (5 greenhouse vegetables and 19 herbs) were conducted to evaluate which crops would grow well under this system. A protocol was developed for aquaponics production in Alberta. This trial produced the highest yields reported in the literature for aquaponics technology. The yields of two major greenhouse crops, cucumber and tomato, calculated on annual basis exceeded average values for commercial greenhouse production based on conventional hydroponic technology in Alberta.
Although, the project proved to be very successful, a new approach has been used to improve the existing facility. The Team at CDCS redesigned the facility with the help of aquaculture program specialists in Lethbridge, which included Dan Watson, Eric Hutchings, and Mike Sanderman.
In the new facility the Team managed:
- to radically improve usage of greenhouse space (more than 2 times). With the same gas bill the produces will be able to double the yield of greenhouse crops;
- to significantly decrease labor requirements through new design and better protocol for crop management based on the design:
- to entirely eliminate water discharge from the system using innovative Biofloc system. It is a completely contained system now, which allows introduction of new fish species in Alberta, such as barramundi, without any contact with the environment. No fertilizers or pesticides are used to produce crop. ......
The system developed in Brooks is unique by its efficiency in space, labor, and water usages and environmental impact. The new redesigned facility gives an opportunity for a massive commercialization of the technology in Alberta more real.
The contents of this page are no longer available.
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For more information about the content of this document, contact Shelley Barkley.
This information published to the web on August 5, 2008.
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