VIABILIDADE ECONÔMICA EM SISTEMA AQUAPÔNICO CULTIVADO COM ALFACE SOB EFEITO DA DENSIDADE DE JUVENIS DE TILÁPIAS E VOLUME DE MATERIAL FILTRANTE

Abstract

This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of stocking density of juvenile tilapia and the filter material volume on the economic viability in an aquaponic system with lettuce. The densities of 30, 60 and 90 juveniles of tilapia/m3 and the volumes of 50 and 70 liters of expanded clay were evaluated, with three replications. The NFT consisted of a 1,000-liter box for fish cultivation, a 200-liter decanter, a biofilter with a capacity of 200 liters, six hydroponic troughs with nine plants per trough spaced 20 centimeters apart and a pump model SB270 brand Sarlo Better. The implementation costs and working capital were raised after the lettuce cycle cultivation and analyzed economic indicators, considering the rate of attractiveness of 15% per year in the five-year scenario. It was found that there was no effect of stocking density and filter material volume on the juvenile tilapia final weight, with the same market value for all treatments. It was found that the selling price the lettuces, those that were grown in a lower density of fish had a lower market value than the others, with no effect of the filter material.