Its seems while laying out my case for the River Refugium Project, (which is a best use of aquaponics and an excellent way to improve aquatic ecosystem health), I may have inadvertently thrown some shade at an old friend. That old friend is the production system known as traditional aquaponics.
While I certainly want to make sure that I am not going too far the other direction and diminishing the idea that variations on these traditional systems can have an outsized impact on the general welfare of the planet as a whole, I also want to make clear that I do believe that aquaponics is the cornerstone system that will allow human life to continue to be the dominating force on this planet while stopping the wholesale extinction event that is being caused by current commercial farming practices AND it will also be the plant production model that allows us to move amongst the stars and make other worlds inhabitable.
It is just that productive of a system.
A big part of the reason for its massive productivity is its flexibility. There are many methods of bringing the water and nutrients to the plants, and there are many methods and sources for harvesting water and nutrients to deliver to the plants. AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM USES LESS WATER AND NUTRIENT THAN COMPARATIVE INDUSTRIAL FARMING METHODS! Sorry for shouting, but that part gets missed a lot in these conversations.
I have mentioned these numerous systems in the past, but I have never listed them out, so here are some of the mainstream delivery methods:
Hydroponic Systems
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
Description: A thin film of nutrient-rich water is circulated over the roots of plants in a sloped channel.
Common Uses: Leafy greens and herbs.
Advantages: Efficient use of water and nutrients; continuous oxygen supply.
Deep Water Culture (DWC)
Description: Plants are suspended in a nutrient-rich, oxygenated water solution.
Common Uses: Lettuce, basil, and other fast-growing plants.
Advantages: Simple setup; excellent oxygenation for roots.
Wick System
Description: Plants draw nutrient solution through wicks from a reservoir to the growing medium.
Common Uses: Herbs and small houseplants.
Advantages: Passive system (no pumps); low maintenance.
Ebb and Flow (Flood and Drain)
Description: Growing trays are periodically flooded with nutrient solution and then drained.
Common Uses: Vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Advantages: Versatile; good for various plant sizes.
Drip System
Description: Nutrient solution is dripped onto the base of each plant through a network of tubes.
Common Uses: Fruit-bearing plants, larger vegetables.
Advantages: Precise nutrient delivery; adaptable to different plant types.
Aeroponics
Description: Roots are suspended in the air and misted with nutrient solution.
Common Uses: Various vegetables and herbs.
Advantages: High oxygenation; fast growth rates.
Kratky Method
Description: A passive system where plant roots grow into the nutrient solution, which is gradually depleted.
Common Uses: Lettuce and other leafy greens.
Advantages: No pumps or electricity needed; simple setup.
Aquaponic Systems
Media-Based Aquaponics
Description: Plants grow in a medium (such as gravel or expanded clay) that also acts as a bio-filter for fish waste.
Common Uses: Vegetables, herbs, and fruits.
Advantages: Simple and effective bio-filtration; versatile plant choices.
Deep Water Culture (DWC) Aquaponics
Description: Similar to hydroponic DWC but integrates fish tanks to supply nutrients.
Common Uses: Leafy greens and herbs.
Advantages: Efficient use of space; high productivity.
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Aquaponics
Description: Fish waste is used to supply nutrients in a thin film of water to plant roots.
Common Uses: Leafy greens and herbs.
Advantages: Efficient water use; compact system.
Raft System (Floating Raft)
Description: Plants are placed on rafts that float on top of water containing fish waste nutrients.
Common Uses: Leafy greens and herbs.
Advantages: Stable plant environment; easy to harvest.
Vertical Aquaponics
Description: Plants are grown in vertically stacked layers, with water trickling down from the top.
Common Uses: Leafy greens, strawberries, and herbs.
Description: Combination of different aquaponic methods (e.g., media beds with NFT channels).
Common Uses: Versatile plant options.
Advantages: Optimizes space and plant growth conditions; flexible design.
Each system has its own set of benefits and challenges, making them suitable for different applications depending on the grower’s needs and resources.
In addition to these methods, we have what I call the evidence models…which are more accurately called the archaic water based farming methods:
Rice Paddy Cultivation
Description: Rice paddies are flooded fields used primarily for growing rice. Water is carefully managed through an intricate system of dikes, canals, and reservoirs.
Regions: Predominantly in Asia (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia), and also in parts of Africa and South America.
Advantages: Efficient water use; supports biodiversity (fish, frogs, etc.).
Floating Gardens (Chinampas)
Description: Artificial islands created in shallow lakes, typically using mud and decaying vegetation. Plants are grown on these fertile platforms.
Regions: Central America, particularly in the Valley of Mexico.
Description: Crops are grown in floodplains, where seasonal flooding deposits nutrient-rich silt onto the fields.
Regions: The Nile Delta in Egypt, the Ganges Delta in India and Bangladesh, and other river valleys worldwide.
Advantages: Natural fertilization; reduced need for artificial irrigation.
Tidal Irrigation
Description: Utilizes the natural ebb and flow of tides to irrigate fields. Channels and gates are constructed to control the flow of water.
Regions: Coastal regions of South and Southeast Asia, particularly in Bangladesh.
Advantages: Sustainable use of tidal movements; enhances soil fertility.
Shadoof and Sakia (Water Wheel) Systems
Description: Traditional methods of lifting water from rivers or wells using simple mechanical devices. The shadoof is a hand-operated device with a bucket on a lever, while the sakia is a water wheel powered by animals.
Regions: The Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
Advantages: Low-cost and effective; suitable for small-scale irrigation.
Qanat (or Karez) System
Description: Underground channels that transport water from aquifers in the mountains to arid plains. The system uses gravity to bring water to the surface.
Regions: Middle East, particularly Iran, and parts of Central Asia.
Advantages: Efficient use of groundwater; reduces evaporation losses.
Sawah System
Description: Wet rice cultivation in terraced fields, where water is managed through a series of levees and channels.
Regions: Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and the Philippines.
Advantages: Efficient water management; supports diverse crops.
Subak System
Description: A cooperative water management system used in Balinese rice paddies, involving a complex network of canals and weirs managed by the community.
Regions: Bali, Indonesia.
Advantages: Community-based management; sustainable and equitable water distribution.
They all work. Any plant can be produced in one of these systems. Any nutrient source can be used in at least one of these types of systems. Will all the plastic BS we make (and I do additive manufacturing for full disclosure) why can’t we use some of it to manufacture greenhouses and grow systems for the poorest parts of the world. Stop blaming the locale or the soil. Neither matter. Don’t tell me about how the world can’t afford it and its tragic. What is tragic is the major nations of the world spent $2.4 trillion (or $2,443 billion to help visualize ridiculous numbers) blowing shit up in 2022 instead of using it to solve the basic problems in front of us.
There is no reason our water is filthy but greed.
There is no reason people are hungry but greed.
I would keep going, but I already feel gross.
Go do some good, even if its “just” Aquaponics.
For more information on how to fix Dead Zones in the Gulf of Mexico and the mouth of other rivers, follow this link –>
