title: Effect of plant species on nitrogen recovery in aquaponics.
abstract: Nitrogen transformations in aquaponics with different edible plant species, i.e., tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and pak choi (Brassica campestris L. subsp. chinensis) were systematically examined and compared. Results showed that nitrogen utilization efficiencies (NUE) of tomato- and pak choi-based aquaponic systems were 41.3% and 34.4%, respectively. The abundance of nitrifying bacteria in tomato-based aquaponics was 4.2-folds higher than that in pak choi-based aquaponics, primarily due to its higher root surface area. In addition, tomato-based aquaponics had better water quality than that of pak choi-based aquaponics. About 1.5-1.9% of nitrogen input were emitted to atmosphere as nitrous oxide (N2O) in tomato- and pak choi-based aquaponic systems, respectively, suggesting that aquaponics is a potential anthropogenic source of N2O emission. Overall, this is the first intensive study that examined the role plant species played in aquaponics, which could provide new strategy in designing and operating an aquaponic system.
authors: Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Hu
authors: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, Sejong-ro 2511, Sejong 339-700, South Korea.
authors: Jae Woo
authors: JW
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors: Kartik
authors: K
authors: Chandran
authors: Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, Sejong-ro 2511, Sejong 339-700, South Korea.
authors: Sungpyo
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors: Ariane Coelho
authors: AC
authors: Brotto
authors: Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. Electronic address: khanal@hawaii.edu.
authors: Samir Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Khanal
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001937:Brassica / Q000378:metabolism*; D005399:Fishes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018527:Hydroponics; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D000641:Ammonia; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Ammonia oxidizing bacteria; Aquaponics; Nitrogen transformations; Nitrous oxide; Plant species