The Effect of Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Cultivation in Aquaponic and Hydroponic Systems on Plant Nutrient Elements and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity

Abstract

Search for raw materials, especially for those used in food production, gained further importance with the increasing world population. In recent years, aquaponic systems which integrated form of fish and plant cultivation were increasingly preferred in the search for new food sources. In this study, culture mediums in aquaponic and hydroponic systems were investigated for koi carps (Cyprinus carpio) and cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus). At the end of the study, nutrient element and chlorophyll contents with antioxidant enzyme activities of the plants grown in aquaponic and hydroponic systems were compared. The comparison between aquaponic and hydroponic systems showed that the differences between the systems in terms of Ca, Na and P were not statistically significant, while there was a statistically significant difference in K and Mg levels among the macro elements between the systems. Differences in microelements (B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were significant among systems. In the aquaponic system, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels were higher compared to those in the hydroponic system, while B, Cu and Mn levels were higher in the hydroponic system. There was no difference in antioxidant system activities (CAT, APX, MDA, SOD) in both systems. The difference between the systems in terms of chlorophyll content was significant, and chlorophyll content in the hydroponic system was higher than that in the aquaponic system.