Effect of different planting beds on growth and development of strawberry in hydroponic and aquaponic cultivation systems

Hydroponically integrated fish and plant production system (aquaponics) is a new production method that has received attention by growers and researchers recently. In order to investigate the effect of different plant substrates (perlite/cocopeat ratios) on strawberry growth and development in hydroponic and aquaponic systems, a greenhouse experiment was carried out as a factorial trial with a completely randomized design in three replications. Results of statistical analysis showed that in hydroponic system, leaf, crown and root fresh weight, runner length, individual leaf weight, chlorophyll a and b content (in high cocopeat ratios), total chlorophyll and carotenoid content (in high cocopeat ratios), were significantly higher than aquaponic system. Increase of cocopeat to perlite ratio in hydroponic system caused a higher chlorophyll a and b content in leaves and this increase was accompanied with increase of plant growth. Results of this research revealed that most of the measured features were better in hydroponic system than in aquaponic system. In addition, the perlite or cocopeat substrates individually were not appropriate for cultivation but their combination was found to be suitable as substrate for cultivation.