Drip Irrigation and Its Effect to Water Quality in Aquaponic Systems

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effect of drip irrigation on water quality in aquaponics systems. The research was carried out at the Ciparanje Aquaculture Laboratory, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Padjadjaran University. The research method applied is experimental employing Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with six treatments and three repetitions. The treatments in the study included the volume of drip irrigation for Capsicum frutescens plants: A (a positive control employing organic liquid fertilizer), B (negative control without employing liquid fertilizer), C (aquaponics drip irrigation with a water volume of 100 ml/day/plant), D (aquaponics drip irrigation with a water volume of 150 ml/day/plant), E (aquaponics drip irrigation with a water volume of 200 ml/day/plant), F (aquaponics drip irrigation with a water volume of 250 ml/day/plant). Parameters observed in this study consist of water quality in the aquaponics system, including ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH. The resulting data were analyzed by descriptive analysis. The results showed that water quality evaluations performed were still within the recommended standard for fish culture.