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Submitted to: Aquaponics Journal
Publication Type: Trade Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2001 Publication Date: 10/18/2001 Citation: Adler, P.R. 2001. Overview of an economic evaluation of phosphorus removal by plants. Aquaponics Journal, 5(4):15-18. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Conventional thinking regarding the use of food crops to clean aquaculture effluents has been that plants cannot remove nutrients in water to low levels without a reduction in productivity and quality. Because greenhouse space is expensive, productivity is critical for a profitable operation. A production strategy, called the conveyor production system, was developed using thin-film technology for plant production in dilute aquaculture effluents. It was shown that by using the conveyor crop production system to grow crops hydroponically on aquaculture effluent, the effluent can be transformed into a high quality water with as low as 0.01 mg/L phosphorus and concurrently produce a high-value crop. Compared to conventional phosphorus removal methods, this process has the potential to generate a profit. |
