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

ABSTRACT: Growth substrates are essential for aquaponic systems and play an important role in vegetable growth and water quality. In this study, we explored an innovative combination of coconut bran and coconut shell biochar (CSB) as a composite growth substrate for lettuce cultivation in aquaponic systems. The study included the control (100 % coconut bran as the growth substrate) and treatment groups (T1-T5; containing 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, and 50 % CSB as the growth substrate, respectively). The substrate properties; lettuce growth performance; and soil enzyme activity, nitrogen content, and abundance of microbial communities in the substrate were analyzed to determine the optimal substrate. Our findings indicated that CSB incorporation significantly altered the properties of the substrate, res

SUBMITTER: Zhu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11336761 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature