Design and Construction of an Aquaponics System: A Sustainable Approach to Enhancing Local Food Security in Offa, Nigeria
The design of an aquaponics system is a major drive in achieving a sustainable agricultural practice, tackling environmental problems, and food security. Aquaponics provides a conservative technique that integrates both hydroponics and aquaculture in regions with minimal arable land. This current s...
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College of Engineering of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State, Nigeria
2025-02-01
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| Series: | ABUAD Journal of Engineering Research and Development |
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| Online Access: | https://www.journals.abuad.edu.ng/index.php/ajerd/article/view/929 |
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| author | Rofiat Bunmi Mudashiru Maryam Yusuf-Olawuyi Aliyu Tijani Lateef Umar Francis Okeke Oluwabunmi Adeyemi Ismaila Amototo Fatai Salaudeen |
| author_facet | Rofiat Bunmi Mudashiru Maryam Yusuf-Olawuyi Aliyu Tijani Lateef Umar Francis Okeke Oluwabunmi Adeyemi Ismaila Amototo Fatai Salaudeen |
| author_sort | Rofiat Bunmi Mudashiru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The design of an aquaponics system is a major drive in achieving a sustainable agricultural practice, tackling environmental problems, and food security. Aquaponics provides a conservative technique that integrates both hydroponics and aquaculture in regions with minimal arable land. This current study aims to design and build an aquaponics system that is suitable and beneficial to its environment. The objectives of building the aquaponics system are to cultivate fish and plants in a closed system that can reduce the requirement for chemical-based nutrients and increase water-use efficiency. Preliminary assessment, design, and preparations of drawings were applied to obtain a suitable plan for the aquaponics system. Civil, construction, plumbing, welding, and planting works were conducted to physically implement the aquaponics system. A farm base of 8 m X 4 m (hydroponics) was built alongside a concrete tank base of (3 m x 2 m x 0.6 m) to hold the fish tank of 2000 L (aquaculture). A canopy material was then laid to hold water in the hydroponics section. Twelve pieces of polystyrene (2.1 m X 1.2 m) were laid to float inside the hydroponics system with each one carrying 9 lightweight disposable cups to serve as planting mediums. Rice husk and palm kernel shells were filled into the cups to grow the plants (cucumber and pepper). Plant and growing medium weights were considered in determining the number of growing mediums(cups) in the hydroponics system. Other works done included plumbing for water, welding for the aquaponics structure, and installation of a cover. This current study incorporates organic waste materials as systematically grown mediums to create additional nutrients, increase grow mediums for optimized plant production, and reduce cost. The result of the study showed a shorter growth cycle for the plants (pepper and cucumber) between germination and flowering indicating a higher infusion of nutrients created by the hydroponics system. The result of the study can be applied as a guide to designing and building an effective aquaponics system and a tool for developing systems that can reduce food insecurity and farming techniques.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01082686ab5343eeb4d00e3ca528e7c5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2756-6811 2645-2685 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | College of Engineering of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State, Nigeria |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ABUAD Journal of Engineering Research and Development |
| spelling | doaj-art-01082686ab5343eeb4d00e3ca528e7c52025-02-03T14:23:22ZengCollege of Engineering of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State, NigeriaABUAD Journal of Engineering Research and Development2756-68112645-26852025-02-018110.53982/ajerd.2025.0801.06-jDesign and Construction of an Aquaponics System: A Sustainable Approach to Enhancing Local Food Security in Offa, NigeriaRofiat Bunmi Mudashiru0Maryam Yusuf-Olawuyi1Aliyu Tijani2Lateef Umar3Francis Okeke4Oluwabunmi Adeyemi5Ismaila Amototo6Fatai Salaudeen7Department of Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Offa, PMB 420, OffaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Offa, PMB 420, OffaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Offa, PMB 420, OffaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Offa, PMB 420, OffaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Offa, PMB 420, OffaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Offa, PMB 420, OffaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Offa, PMB 420, OffaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Offa, PMB 420, Offa The design of an aquaponics system is a major drive in achieving a sustainable agricultural practice, tackling environmental problems, and food security. Aquaponics provides a conservative technique that integrates both hydroponics and aquaculture in regions with minimal arable land. This current study aims to design and build an aquaponics system that is suitable and beneficial to its environment. The objectives of building the aquaponics system are to cultivate fish and plants in a closed system that can reduce the requirement for chemical-based nutrients and increase water-use efficiency. Preliminary assessment, design, and preparations of drawings were applied to obtain a suitable plan for the aquaponics system. Civil, construction, plumbing, welding, and planting works were conducted to physically implement the aquaponics system. A farm base of 8 m X 4 m (hydroponics) was built alongside a concrete tank base of (3 m x 2 m x 0.6 m) to hold the fish tank of 2000 L (aquaculture). A canopy material was then laid to hold water in the hydroponics section. Twelve pieces of polystyrene (2.1 m X 1.2 m) were laid to float inside the hydroponics system with each one carrying 9 lightweight disposable cups to serve as planting mediums. Rice husk and palm kernel shells were filled into the cups to grow the plants (cucumber and pepper). Plant and growing medium weights were considered in determining the number of growing mediums(cups) in the hydroponics system. Other works done included plumbing for water, welding for the aquaponics structure, and installation of a cover. This current study incorporates organic waste materials as systematically grown mediums to create additional nutrients, increase grow mediums for optimized plant production, and reduce cost. The result of the study showed a shorter growth cycle for the plants (pepper and cucumber) between germination and flowering indicating a higher infusion of nutrients created by the hydroponics system. The result of the study can be applied as a guide to designing and building an effective aquaponics system and a tool for developing systems that can reduce food insecurity and farming techniques. https://www.journals.abuad.edu.ng/index.php/ajerd/article/view/929AquaponicsHydroponicsConstructionFood SecurityAquaculture |
| spellingShingle | Rofiat Bunmi Mudashiru Maryam Yusuf-Olawuyi Aliyu Tijani Lateef Umar Francis Okeke Oluwabunmi Adeyemi Ismaila Amototo Fatai Salaudeen Design and Construction of an Aquaponics System: A Sustainable Approach to Enhancing Local Food Security in Offa, Nigeria ABUAD Journal of Engineering Research and Development Aquaponics Hydroponics Construction Food Security Aquaculture |
| title | Design and Construction of an Aquaponics System: A Sustainable Approach to Enhancing Local Food Security in Offa, Nigeria |
| title_full | Design and Construction of an Aquaponics System: A Sustainable Approach to Enhancing Local Food Security in Offa, Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Design and Construction of an Aquaponics System: A Sustainable Approach to Enhancing Local Food Security in Offa, Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design and Construction of an Aquaponics System: A Sustainable Approach to Enhancing Local Food Security in Offa, Nigeria |
| title_short | Design and Construction of an Aquaponics System: A Sustainable Approach to Enhancing Local Food Security in Offa, Nigeria |
| title_sort | design and construction of an aquaponics system a sustainable approach to enhancing local food security in offa nigeria |
| topic | Aquaponics Hydroponics Construction Food Security Aquaculture |
| url | https://www.journals.abuad.edu.ng/index.php/ajerd/article/view/929 |
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