| Author | Shrestha, Riya |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.FB-19-02 |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Science in
Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no.FB-19-02 |
| Abstract | This study was conducted jointly by the Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), School of Engineering and Technology (SET) and the Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology (FEBT) Program, Department of Food, Agriculture and Bioresources (FAB), School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). A smart vertical aquaponics system was developed, fabricated and evaluated for its efficacy and user-friendliness. The living components of the vertical aquaponics system (fish, plants and microorganisms) were studied in-depth in order to evaluate and to optimize the suitable conditions for growth and productivity of the fish and plants. In addition, a smart system using Internet of Things (IoT) integrating sensors was designed to monitor and control the environmental parameters of the system. The system also provided a web application to track the system remotely using mobile devices. Aquaponics is a sustainable organic method of growing fish and plants. For proper functioning of system, microbial community are major players. The objective of this study was to evaluate microbial diversity colonizing the aquaponic system and to analyze growth and productivity of plants and fish. From aquaponic systems, two pure strains of bacteria were isolated and identified namely; Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pelomonas aquatica. Their growth in varying nitrogen concentrations provided the optimum concentration of ammonia to be 1.5g/L and for nitrite 0.018mg/L. With the use of molecular techniques, nitrifying as well as nitrogen fixing microorganisms were identified in the microbial community in the installed aquaponic system. P. aeruginosa possessed both the functional genes of ammonia oxidation (amoA) and nitrite oxidation (nxrA). The functional gene of nitrogen fixation (nifH) was found to be present in the pooled DNA sample of the total microbial community. Tilapia showed efficient growth with final FCR of 1.3 and increase in wet weight from 16.5g to 150g in 148 days. Morning glory grown in the vertical towers of aquaponic system demonstrated desirable growth rate and harvestable quantity in 28 days. Such detailed study of all components establish reliable base for potential wide practice of aquaponic systems. |
| Keyword | Vertical aquaponics; Nitrification process; Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB),
Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Water morning glory
(Ipomea aquatica) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. no.FB-19-02 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology (FB) |
| Chairperson(s) | Anal, Anil Kumar; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Loc Thai Nguyen ;Dailey, Matthew N. ;Shrestha, Surendra Man |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Her Majesty the Queen’s Scholarships(Thailand); |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2019 |