Suitability of coconut bran and biochar as a composite substrate for lettuce cultivation in aquaponic systems

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35515
• Publication Date: 2024-08-05T18:28:00Z
• Authors: Chen Zhu; Zuo Lin; Wang Fen; Wang Jiajia; Zhou Xiang; Cui Kai; Zhang Yu; Zhang Kelai; Jiang Yelin; Krishna R. Salin
• Keywords: Aquaponics

Growth substrates are essential for aquaponic systems and play an important role in vegetable growth water quality. In this study, we explored innovative combination of coconut bran shell biochar (CSB) as a composite substrate lettuce cultivation systems. The study included the control (100 % substrate) treatment groups (T1-T5; containing 10 %, 20 30 40 50 CSB substrate, respectively). properties; performance; soil enzyme activity, nitrogen content, abundance microbial communities were analyzed to determine optimal substrate. Our findings indicated that incorporation significantly altered properties resulting increased dry bulk densities, pH, water-holding capacity, decreased electrical conductivity, water-absorption porosity. Furthermore, fresh weight was notably groups. activities fluorescein diacetate hydrolase, urease, nitrate reductase, hydroxylamine reductase initially further decreased, reaching maximum T3 group. Conversely, activity nitrite contents available nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen increased, with minimum values observed sequencing results diversity relative microorganisms associated transformation. Moreover, exhibited greatest effect on growth, 34.5 31.6 increase compared during harvest periods, respectively. This enormous potential research development green technologies amendment