Page 305 - Trends in Science and Technology fo Sustainable Living

266 Fakultas Sains dan Teknologi
Universitas Terbuka (2023)

aquaponics and bioflocs. Pinho et al. recently proposed the term
“FLOCponics” to identify and unite the systems formerly known as
“BFT+hydroponics,” “BFT+aquaponics,” and “BFT+plant production.”
According to FLOCponics researchers, adding hydroponics
production to a BFT farm may increase economic diversity by
producing additional value-added products (plants) and reduce
the negative environmental impacts of biofloc-based production,
such as nitrate and phosphorus accumulation in BFT culture and
discharge through solids management (Emerenciano et al., 2021;
Luo et al., 2020; Poli et al., 2019). BFT is also projected to provide
relevant benefits in terms of agri-aquaculture productivity. The
enhanced zootechnical performance recorded in BFT compared
to RAS cultures (Luo, G., Gao, Q., Wang, C., & Al, E., 2014; Guemez-
Sorhouet, E., Colmenares, H.V., Racotta, I.S., Naranjo, J., & Mercier, R.,
2019), as well as the good impacts of BFT on animal nutrition and
health (Dauda, 2020), indicating that FLOCponics may provide an
advantage.

4. Animal and Vegetable Food Production through Biofloc
Technology
Leafy vegetables and herbs, mainly lettuce and basil, are the
most common vegetables grown in aquaponic systems. Because
of the lengthier production cycle and desire for differing nutritional
ratios, these systems are often less ideal for fruit vegetables. Many
species, however, can be grown, particularly in media-based
systems. Some of the more typically grown include lettuce, basil,
coriander, spring onion, bok choy/pak choy, chiso, tomatoes and
cucumbers, beets, okra, taro, and blueberries (Babatunde, A.,
Deborah, R. A., Gan, M., & Simon, T., 2022; Benjamin, E. O., Tzemi, D., &
Fialho, D. S., 2021; Blanchard, 2019; Frost, 2019; Hambrey, J., Evans, S., &
Pantanella, E., 2013; Matthews, 2017; Pattillo, 2021; Tetra, O. N., Yusuf, Y.,
Dewi, P., & Pardi, H., 2023; Ujjania, 2021).
These plants differ in terms of nutrient requirements and
uptake. Fruit veggies have a greater nutrient demand and may
require various nutrient levels at different stages of development.
As a result, growing them successfully in aquaponic systems takes