Effects of Nutrient Solution and Unsupplemented Aquaponic Effluent Water on the Growth, Yield, and Quality Characteristics of Coriander in a Hydroponic NFT System
1 Ege University, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, İzmir
2 Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, İzmir
Abstract
The present study aimed to determine the effects of nutrient solution (NS) and unsupplemented aquaponic effluent water (AE) on the growth, yield, and quality characteristics of coriander in a hydroponic NFT system. Coriander seeds were sown in peat in styrofoam trays and germinated for 10 days under controlled conditions. Seedlings were acclimatized in a greenhouse and, at the two true-leaf stage, transplanted into net pots placed in NFT channels. Plants were cultivated hydroponically for 31 days until harvest. In NFT system three channels were irrigated with a nutrient solution (control), while the other three channels were irrigated with unsupplemented aquaponic effluent water. Five tilapia fish were used in the aquaponic system and they were fed a maximum of 5 g feed day-1. Following a single harvest, growth, yield, and quality characteristics of the plants were evaluated. Data from an experimental and not fully stabilized aquaponic system have shown that it is possible to grow coriander in a water culture system using only fish waste; however, reductions were observed in plant growth, yield, and some quality parameters. Agromorphological parameters and total yield were all higher in the NS treatment. No significant differences were observed between NS and AE in terms of vitamin C and nitrate contents; however, leaf chlorophyll content was higher in the NS. Leaf yellowing was observed in the AE. It was also determined that the EC of the water in the AE was lower, while the pH was higher compared to the control. The observed differences do not necessarily indicate the superiority of the hydroponic NFT system over aquaponic production systems. Rather, these differences can be attributed to variations in the quantity and composition of nutrients supplied by the standard hydroponic NS compared with the AE. Overall, the findings demonstrate that leafy greens with short cultivation cycles can be successfully grown in aquaponic systems without additional nutrient supplementation, highlighting the considerable potential of aquaponics for sustainable agriculture. However, effective plant nutrient management is of critical importance for achieving satisfactory crop growth and productivity in aquaponic systems.
Keywords
Coriandrum sativum,water culture,nutrient film technique,aquaponics,tilapia
How to Cite
ALİ , A. A., & ÖZTEKİN , G. B. (2026). Effects of Nutrient Solution and Unsupplemented Aquaponic Effluent Water on the Growth, Yield, and Quality Characteristics of Coriander in a Hydroponic NFT System. ISPEC Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 10(3), 850–862. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21860988
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Gölgen Bahar ÖZTEKİN 2