• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.424-433
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• 2021

The aim of this study is to explores the possibility of applying new aquaponics using guppies, a tropical fish breeding as companion fish at home, different from the aquaponics system using fish species such as loach, carp, and catfish for commercial purposes. To facilitate the application of Aquaponics at home, a system was established by connecting a water tank, water plants, hydroponic pots, plant growth LEDs, and Arduino sensors using Internet of Things(IoT) technology. As a hydroponic crops, lettuce that can be easily obtained and consumed at home was selected. In order to confirm the applicability of aquaponics using tropical fish, the growth rates of hydroponic crops in the same environment were compared as a control. The growth rate of aquaponics crops using tropical fish was about 77.4% of that of hydroponic crops. This will produce the same effect as hydroponic cultivation if conditions correspond with enough fish quantity to feed plant and appropriate pH control for growth are met. It can be seen that, and in the future, it can be used to develop an Aquaphonics standard system applicable at home.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2023

Concentration of nitrogen, one of the major elements, and ratio of two nitrogen forms (NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-) in the nutrient solution affect the quality and food safety of fresh vegetable produce. This study was conducted to find an appropriate strength and NH₄⁺:NO₃^- ratio of a nutrient solution for growth and development of a Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longiflora) 'Caesar Green', a representative leafy vegetable, grown in a home hydroponic system. In the first experiment, plants were grown using three types of nutrient solution: A commercial nutrient solution (Peters) and two strengths (GNU1 and GNU2) of a multipurpose nutrient solution (GNU solution) developed in a Gyeongsang National University lab. Plants grown with the GNU1 and GNU2 had greater shoot length, leaf length and width, and biomass yield than Peters. On the other hand, the root hairs of plants grown with Peters were short and dark in color. Tissue NH₄⁺ content in the Peters was higher than that of the GNU1 and GNU2. The higher contents of NH₄⁺ in this solution may have caused ammonium toxicity. In the second experiment, eight treatment solutions, combining GNU1 and GNU2 solutions with four ratios of NO₃^- :NH₄⁺ named as 1, 2, 3 and 4 were used. Both experiments showed more growth in the GNU2 group, which had a relatively low ionic strength of the nutrient solution. The growth of Romaine lettuce showed the greatest fresh weight along with low tissue NO₃^- content in the GNU2-2. This was more advantageous in terms of food safety in that it suppressed the accumulation of surplus NO₃^- in tissues due to the low ionic trength of the GNU2 subgroup. In addition, this is preferable in that it can reduce the absolute amount of the input of inorganic nutrients to the nutrient solution.