Evaluation of Ammonia (NH3) Removal Through Water Recycling in Aquaculture by Aquaponic ...

99 Pages·2017·4.08 MB·English

by  Alaa Awad

The Islam ic University–Gaza ةزــغ – ةــيملاـــــسلإا ةــــــــــعماـجلا
Research and Postgraduate Affairs
ايلعلا تاساردلاو يملعلا ثحبلا نوئش

Faculty of Science موـــــــــــــــــــــلـعلا ةــــــــــــــــــــيلـك

Master of Environmental Sciences ةــــــــــــيئيبلا موـــــلعلا رـــــــيتسجام

Evaluation of Ammonia (NH ) Removal
3
Through Water Recycling in Aquaculture by
Aquaponic System and Its Effect on The
Growth Rate of Used Fish and Plants

)NH (
ماظن يف يكمسلا عرازتسلاا هايم ريودت ةداعإ للاخ 3 اينوملأا ةـــــــلزا إ مييقت
ةمدختسملا تاتابنلاو كمسلا ومن ىلع هريثأتو كينوباوكلأا
Alaa M. Awad
Supervised by

Prof. Mohammad R. Al-Agha Dr. Eyad M. Atalah
Environment & Earth Science M inistry of Agriculture
Dep. – Faculty of Science – IUG. Gaza – Palestine.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences

May /2017
رراــــــــــــــقإ

:ناونعلا لمحت يتلا ةلاسرلا مدقم هاندأ عقوملا انأ
Evaluation of Ammonia (NH ) Removal Through Water
3
Recycling in Aquaculture by Aquaponic System and Its
Effect on The Growth Rate of Used Fish and Plants
)NH (
يف يكمسلا عرازتسلاا هايم ريودت ةداعإ للاخ 3 اينوملأا ةـــــــلزا إ مييقت
ةمدختسملا تاتابنلاو كمسلا ومن ىلع هريثأتو كينوباوكلأا ماظن
،درو امثيح هيلإ ةراشلإا تمت ام ءانثتساب ،صاخلا يدهج جاتن وه امنإ ةلاسرلا هذه هيلع تلمتشا ام نأب رقأ
يأ ىدل يثحب وأ يملع بقل وأ ةجرد لينل نيرخلاا لبق نم مدقي مل اهنم ءزج يأ وأ لكك ةلاسرلا هذه نأو
. ىرخأ ةيثحب وأ ةيميلعت ةسسؤم
Declaration
I understand the nature of plagiarism, and I am aware of the University’s policy on
this.
The work provided in this thesis, unless otherwise referenced, is the researcher's own
work, and has not been submitted by others elsewhere for any other degree or
qualification.
Student's name: ضوع ىفطصم دمحم ءلاأ :بلاطلا مسا
Signature: :عيقوتلا
Date: :خيراتلا

I

Abstract
The extraordinary growth of population in Gaza, had led to the depletion of the limited
natural resources and tampering food security as a result. Since 2006, alternative
techniques to produce fish such as: “aquaculture” has been adopted Palestine, to cover
the shortage fish supplies in market. An effort was made to introduce a sustainable
aquaponics system medium. The combination consists of soilless Eggplants (Solanum
melongena) and Chilli pepper (Capsicum spp.) as growing hydroponic and Nile Tilapia
(Oreochromis niloticus) fish farming “aquaculture” within a closed recirculating
system.
The goal of this study was to assess Nitrogen waste reduction in the aquaponics and
its effects on growth rate of used fish and plants. Experiment used (40) Nile Tilapia
fish in 1000 L tank, (30) Eggplants and (30) Chilies Pepper saplings. They were
planted in two growing beds.
Fish were nourished “ad libitum”, three times a day for five days a week. Also, the
results of the Specific Growth Ratio (SGR (%)( and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) at
the end of experiment gave better results. The mean growth of Tilapia had significantly
improved during (56) days of experiment at (α≤0.05). Comparing the average initial
weight (72.95±23.21 g) and average initial overall length (16.07±1.92 cm), to the final
experiment results, the average final weight scored was (120.07±19.21 g), and average
final total length was (19.61±2.07 cm). Moreover, the mean growth of both Eggplants
and Chilies Pepper varied significantly during the experiment at (α≤0.05). The height
of each Chili sapling increased by almost (3.69 cm). Whist each Eggplant sapling total
height had increase by almost (5.57 cm).
Dissolved Oxygen, water temperature and pH, were measured once a week during the
experimental period and found within the vital ranges for aquaponics system. Nitrate
“NO -”, Ammonia “NH ” and Nitrite “NO -” varied significantly in all measurements
3 3 2
during the study period at (α≤0.05). Therefore, the study showed that the application
of the aquaponic system has significant influence at Nitrogen reduction, the best
percentage reduction was achieved at the beginning of the experiment by showing
(25.6%), (16.3%) and (12.00%) for NH , NO - and NO -, respectively.
3 2 3
II
صخلملا
نمو صاخ لكشب ةيئاذغلا دراوملا ىلع بلطلا ىوتسم عفر ،ةزغ عاطقب ناكسلا ددع يف درطضملا ديازتلا ىدأ
ةزغ هيناعت ام ىلع بترت .هيف ةيعيبطلا دراوملا فازنتسا ىلا ىدأ امم اهريغو كامسلأاك ةيرحبلا ةيذغلأا اهنمض
براجتلا نم ديدعلا زوربل ؛رظحلا تاعاسو ديصلا حطسم ةيدودحمو ،اهلحاوس لوط ىلع يرحب راصح نم
.2006 ماع ذنم ترهدزا يتلا ةيكمسلا عرازملا ءاشنا للاخ نم كامسلأا جاتنلإ ةيلحملا
ريودتو )كينوباوكلأا( ةيكمسلا /ةيئاملا ةعارزلا ماظن قيبطتل ةداج تلاواحم تلذب ،ةئيبلا رداصم ىلع ظافحلل
لماكتلاب يلينلا يطلبلا كمس ةيبرت ينبت ربع ةمادتسلاا موهفم ززعت يتلا ةمظنلأا نم وهو ،ةيكمسلا عرازملا هايم
دامسك كمسلا هايم يف ةيوضعلا تافلخملا نم تاتابنلا هذه ديفتست ثيح راحلا لفلفلاو ناجنذابلا تاتابن ةعارز عم
عارزتسلاا نع ةجتانلا ةينيجورتينلا تافلخملا ةلازإ ىلع ماظنلا ةردق مييقت وه ةساردلا هذه نم فدهلا نإ .يوضع
.ةمدختسملا تاتابنلاو كامسلأا ومن ىلع اهريثأتو يكمسلا
همجح ضوح يف (Oreochromis niloticus) يلينلا يطلبلا نم ةكمس )40( مادختسا ىلع ةبرجتلا تلمتسا
لفلفلا تابن نم ةلتش )30( و (Solanum melongena) ناجنذابلا تابن نم ةلتش )30( ةعارزو ،رتل )1000(
ًايموي تارم ثلاث عابشلإا ىتح كامسلأا ةيذغت مت ،ةعارزلل نيصصخم نيضوح يف (Capsicum spp.) راحلا
لولاا مويلا يفف ،)موي 56( ةساردلا ةرتف للاخ تديازت كامسلأا نازوأ لدعم نأ نيبت دقل .ً ايعوبسأ مايأ ةسمخ ةدمل
)مس 16.07±1.92) اهل ةيلكلا لاوطلأا طسوتم غلبو ،)مج72.95±23.21) كامسلأا نزو طسوتم ناك ةبرجتلل
كامسلأل ةيلكلا لاوطلأا طسوتمو )مج 120.07±19.21) كامسلأا نزو طسوتم غلب ةبرجتلا رخآ يفو
ةيونعم ةيئاصحإ ةللاد تاذ تناك ةيلكلا لاوطلأاو كامسلأا نزو طسوتم يف ةدايزلا هذهو .)مس 19.61±2.07)
(SGR) كمسلل يبسنلا ومنلا لدعم و (FCR) كمسلل يئاذغ ليوحت ةءافك نم ًلاك ميق تناك امك ،(α≤0.05) دنع
امأ ،ةلتش لكل )مس 5.5( غلب ناجنذابلا تاتابن ومن لدعم نإف كلذ ىلع ةفاضإو ،ةبرجتلا رخآ يف نكمي ام لضفأ
تاتابنلا ومن ىلع ةيونعم ةللاد تطعأ ةدايزلا هذهو موي )56( للاخ ةلتش لكل )مس 3.69( هومن غلب دقف راحلا لفلفلا
تاتابنلا عاونأ فلاتخا امهدحأ نيريغتم دوجو لظ يف ةبرجتلا ةيادب يف تاتابنلا لاوطأب ةنراقم ةبرجتلا للاخ
.(α≤0.05) دنع تاتابنلا لاوطأ اهللاخ تسيق يتلا ةينمزلا ةرتفلا رخلآاو ةعورزملا
ءاملا ةرارح ةجردو ،(pH) ةضومحلا ةجردو ،(DO) بئاذلا نيجسكلأا نم ًلاك سايق مت ،قبس ام ىلع ةفاضإو
.كينوباوكلأا ةمظنأ يف لوبقملا ىدملا نمض حوارتت تاسايقلا هذه ميق تناكو ةساردلا ةرتف للاخ يعوبسأ لكشب
يف ةيئاصحإ ةللاد دوجو جئاتنلا ترهظأو ءاملا يف تارتنلاو تيرتينلاو اينوملأا زيكرت نم ًلاك سايق مت امك
دنع ةجلاعملا لبق زيكارتلاب ةنراقم هايملا ةجلاعم ةيلمع دعب تيرتينلاو تارتنلاو اينوملأا نم ًلاك زيكارت
نأ ثيح ،ةينيجورتينلا تافلخملا نم دحلا يف ريبك رود هل كينوباوكلأا ماظن نا تتبثأ ةساردلا هذه .(α≤0.05)
:(NH ) نم ًلاك ةلازإ تغلب ذإ ،نكمي ام ىلعأ تناك ةبرجتلا ةيادب يف ةينيجورتينلا تابكرملا ةلازإ يف ماظنلا ةءافك
3
.%12.00 :(NO -) ،%16.3 :(NO -( ،%25.6
3 2

III
Dedication
This thesis is dedicated to my Mother and Father, who inspired me through their
continuous support and encouragement during the tenure of my life.
This is dedicated as well to my beloved Brothers, Sister and to my great best Friend
to “Hala N. Al-Kubaissi”. They were my vibrant source of motivation and inspiration.
In conclusion, this Thesis is dedicated to my family, friends, colleagues and those who
believe in the richness of learning.

Alaa M. Awad
IV
Acknowledgement
The foremost gratitude is to “Allah”, The Compassionate and The Merciful, for
embedding myself with patience and merits to accomplish this research.
Acknowledgement is owed to the Islamic University- Gaza (IUG), for their patronage
of this research by accessing their outstanding facilities, and granting the opportunity
to proceed on with my graduate studies. Furthermore, special thanks to Department of
Environmental and Earth Sciences at IUG.
Completing a M.Sc. is truly hard job, and I could not finalize the mission without
others support and involvement. I would like to express my honest gratitude to my
Supervisor, Prof. Mohammad R. Al-Agha, for his varied spectacular scientific
knowledge that he had successfully conveyed to us. Special thanks to the wise
guidance of my Supervisor, Dr. Eyad M. Atalah, and his constructive
recommendations during the carryout of the Thesis. Without prejudice, the collective
knowledge and visions of both professors had significantly influenced and enriched
the outcomes of the study. Also, I would like to express my deepest thanks to Prof.
Samir A. Afifi for his guidance and his helpful suggestions to complete this thesis.
Exceptional thanks to:
1. The Food & Agriculture Organization “FAO” of The United Nations. They
have indirect technical supported to this research by furnishing IUG with
aquaponics system for research and study purposes.
2. Middle East Desalination Research Centre "MEDRC", for their financial
donation and sponsorship of this research. Their esteemed donation and
support produced high quality and reputable standards work.
3. To Mr. Alaa Aljubb, Mrs. Asmaa J. Al-Dadah and Mr. Muath S. Afifi, for their
kind assistance during laboratory analysis and Thesis preparation.
4. Mr. Mahmoud Shehadah, for his kind assistance during the Thesis preparation
and editing.

V
Table of Contents
DECLARATION ........................................................................................................... I
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. II
صخلملا ............................................................................................................................III
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................. IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................ V
LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... IX
LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... XI
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................... XII
1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 2
1.1 BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT .................................................................................. 2
1.2 OBJECTIVES .............................................................................................................. 3
1.2.1 General Objective ................................................................................................. 3
1.2.2 Specific Objectives ............................................................................................... 3
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE ........................................................................................................... 3
1.4 SCOPE AND LIMITATION ........................................................................................... 3
1.5 THESIS OUTLINE ....................................................................................................... 4
2 LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 7
2.1 GLOBAL AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES ................................................................. 7
2.1.1 Aquaculture in Palestine ...................................................................................... 9
2.1.2 Aquaculture Definitions ..................................................................................... 13
2.1.3 The Aquaculture History .................................................................................... 13
2.1.4 The Aquaculture Systems .................................................................................. 14
2.2 HYDROPONIC SYSTEM ............................................................................................ 15
2.2.1 Definition of Hydroponic ................................................................................... 15
2.2.2 The Hydroponic History .................................................................................... 16
2.2.3 The Hydroponic Systems ................................................................................... 17
2.3 AQUAPONICS SYSTEM ............................................................................................ 19
2.3.1 The Aquaponics Definitions .............................................................................. 19
VI
2.3.2 The Aquaponic History ...................................................................................... 19
2.3.3 Recycling of Nutrient Effluent ........................................................................... 20
2.3.4 Aquaponics in Palestine ..................................................................................... 23
2.3.5 Aquaponic Systems ............................................................................................ 24
2.3.5.1 Aquaponics Large-Scale System Studies ................................................... 26
2.3.5.2 Aquaponics Small-Scale System Studies ................................................... 28
3 MATERIALS AND METHODS .......................................................................... 35
3.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED AQUAPONIC SYSTEM .................................. 35
3.2 GENERAL OPERATION OF PROPOSED AQUAPONIC SYSTEM ................................... 38
3.3 EXPERIMENTAL CONDITION ................................................................................... 41
3.4 EXPERIMENTAL FISH & GROWTH RATE MEASUREMENTS .................................... 42
3.5 EXPERIMENTAL PLANTS & GROWTH RATE MEASUREMENTS ............................... 43
3.6 WATER QUALITY MEASUREMENTS ....................................................................... 44
3.6.1 Physical Field Parameters .................................................................................. 45
3.6.2 Chemical Measurements .................................................................................... 46
3.6.2.1 Ammonia (NH (ppm)) ............................................................................... 46
3
3.6.2.2 Nitrite (NO - (ppm)) ................................................................................... 47
2
3.6.2.3 Nitrate (NO - (ppm)) .................................................................................. 48
3
3.6.2.4 The Reduction Percentage .......................................................................... 48
3.7 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ......................................................................................... 49
4 RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 51
4.1 WATER PARAMETERS MEASUREMENTS.................................................................. 51
4.1.1 Water Temperature (˚C) ..................................................................................... 52
4.1.2 pH Value ............................................................................................................ 52
4.1.3 Dissolved Oxygen (DO) ..................................................................................... 53
4.1.4 Ammonia (NH ) ................................................................................................. 54
3
4.1.5 Nitrite (NO -) ...................................................................................................... 54
2
4.1.6 Nitrate (NO -) ..................................................................................................... 55
3
4.1.7 Percentage of Nitrogen Reduction ..................................................................... 56
4.2 TILAPIA FISH (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) GROWTH RESULTS ............................. 56
4.2.1 Fish Weights....................................................................................................... 56
4.2.2 Fish Total Length ............................................................................................... 57
VII
4.2.3 Growth Performance (SGR (%) & FCR) ........................................................... 58
4.3 PLANT GROWTH RESULTS ...................................................................................... 58
4.3.1 Chili Peppers (Capsicum spp.) Growth Results. ................................................ 58
4.3.2 Eggplant (Solanum melongena) Growth Results ............................................... 59
5 DISCUSSION ....................................................................................................... 63
5.1 NITROGEN REMOVAL ............................................................................................. 63
5.1.1 Ammonia (NH ) ................................................................................................. 63
3
5.1.2 Nitrite (NO -) ...................................................................................................... 65
2
5.1.3 Nitrate (NO -) ..................................................................................................... 65
3
5.1.4 Percentage of Nitrogen Reduction ..................................................................... 67
5.2 FISH GROWTH PERFORMANCE ............................................................................... 69
5.3 PLANT GROWTH PERFORMANCE ............................................................................ 71
6 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................. 74
6.1 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................ 74
6.2 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................. 76
THE REFERENCE LIST ............................................................................................ 78

VIII