Benefits in the Tilapia Growth, by Vetiver Grass in an Aquaponics System

Abstract

Tilapia aquaculture has growing vertiginously in the world, reaching 7.02 million tons in 2020. In Mexico, the same year reached 72.6 thousand tons. This production values have increased environmental impact and production costs. In Mexico there is a pre-Hispanic aquaponics system, where people culture corn, bean fishes and other organisms. Taken this system as basis, the aim this work was demonstrate the benefits in tilapia aquaculture, by Vetiver grass. Three mini-ponds make up by tilapia juveniles and Vetiver in aquaponics system, and one mini-pond without Vetiver, were cultured during ten weeks. The ammonia, nitrates, dissolved O2, pH etc., and also tilapia weights were recorded along experiment. Results indicated that, ammonia decreased, nitrate increased and tilapia weight increased significantly in mini-ponds with Vetiver than without Vetiver. A von Bertalanffy simplified model was used to calculate time required for tilapias reached 500 g (commercial size) with Vetiver and without Vetiver; it was 48.6 and 54.4 weeks respectively. An extrapolation to commercial tilapia aquaculture, will decreased production cost, due to lower amount of feed and water in tilapia hatcheries; also, a lower environmental impact by wastes discharged to coastal ecosystems, e.g., the amount of ammonia produced in mini-ponds with Vetiver was 4.56 times less than mini-pond without Vitier at week ten. Moreover, tilapia culture with Vetiver, have an aggregated value, because Vetiver is used in perfumes production, reaching 45.2 billons US dollars in 2020.