Mineral Nutrient Concentration And Uptake By Tomato Irrigated With Recirculating Aquaculture Water As Influenced By Quantity Of Fish Waste Products Supplied

Abstract Fish and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) production were linked in a recirculaing water system. Fish (tilapia) were fed a commercial diet with 32% protein. Tomato cultivars ‘Laura’ and ‘Kewalo’ were grown during summer 1988 and spring 1989, respectively, in a Raleigh, NC greenhouse. Plants were grown in biofilters at 4 plants/m2 and surface irrigated 8 times daily with water pumped from an associated fish tank. Four tank‐to‐biofllter ratios were established by varying the filter size. Each system received identical nutrient inputs and an equal quantity of water was applied per plant. Biofilter drainage returned to the tanks. Biological filtration, aeration, and mineral assimilation by plants maintained water quality within limits for tilapia. All nutrients were assimilated above deficiency levels. Tissue concentrations of N, P, K and Mg were not limiting. Calcium was low and S high when their sole nutrient source was fish waste. Micronutrients were assimilated in excess of sufficiency, but...