Ecoponic
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Ecoponic
Ecoponics, also known as ecoponics, is an advanced method of organic farming that focuses on creating sustainable and environmentally friendly plant systems. Unlike aquaponics, where fish farming is combined with plant cultivation, the focus of ecoponics is on the full integration of ecological principles into hydroponic systems.
Core elements of ecoponics
Use of organic nutrient solutions
In contrast to conventional hydroponic systems, which often rely on synthetic fertilizers, ecoponics uses organic nutrient solutions. These are derived from natural sources such as compost tea, worm compost extract or other organic waste.
Sustainable resource management
Ecoponic systems are designed to use water and nutrients efficiently. By reusing and recycling water and nutrients, the ecological footprint is minimized.
Promoting biodiversity
Ecoponics promotes biodiversity by integrating different plant species and creatures (snails, cockroaches, earthworms, guppies, etc) into a system. This can help to control pests and diseases and maintain the ecological balance.
Energy efficiency
By using renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, ecoponics aims to reduce energy consumption and minimize environmental impact.Biological pest control
Instead of chemical pesticides, ecoponic systems use biological pest control methods such as beneficial insects or biological preparations.
Advantages of ecoponics- Environmentally friendly: By not using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, the environment is less polluted.
- Resource-efficient: The efficient use of water and nutrients helps to conserve natural resources.
- Healthy food production: The use of organic nutrients leads to healthier plants and therefore healthier food.
- Promoting sustainability: Ecoponic systems support sustainable agricultural practices and contribute to the preservation of natural ecosystems.
While ecoponics as a concept is gaining momentum, there is less comprehensive scientific literature on it compared to aquaponics and hydroponics. For further information, specialized publications and case studies of organic farms may be helpful. A useful book could be "The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution" by Andrew Mefferd, which describes sustainable farming practices in detail, although it does not focus exclusively on ecoponics.
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Ecoponics
Ecoponics is an integrative approach that combines ecological principles with aquaponics and hydroponics to create sustainable and environmentally friendly farming systems.This approach goes a step further than selective aquaponics and hydroponics. Ecoponics attempts to recreate a large part of the natural biotope (Greek βίος bíos, meaning 'life', and τόπος · tópos, meaning 'place'). In addition to fish from aquaculture and plants from hydroponics, ecoponics also includes all microorganisms. Ecoponics is an attempt to recreate a biotope that is as complete as possible. The advantage of this is that it creates a much more stable environment for fish and plants.The focus is on optimizing resource use, reducing waste and promoting biodiversity. By integrating fish and plant farming in an environment that is as species-rich as possible, a much more stable cycle is created that is better able to withstand fluctuations of all kinds. This method aims to minimize environmental impacts, improve food security and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
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Integration of Ecoponics system
In an ecoponics system, a wide variety of living creatures must be integrated in order to create a healthy, sustainable and functioning ecosystem. The interplay between the individual participants is highly complex and undesirable interactions, i.e. reciprocal effects, have hardly been researched so far. Keyword: biosphere.Here are some examples of the composition of such a system.Plant
Vegetables- Salads (e.g. lettuce, romaine lettuce)
- tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Paprika
- Herbs (e.g. basil, mint, coriander)
- Leafy vegetables (e.g. spinach, chard, rocket)
Practically all plants can be grown in this system. Species that cannot be grown in hydroponics or are difficult to grow can be grown in the soil or in so-called hydroponic pots.fruit- Strawberries
- Melons
- Berries (e.g. raspberries, blackberries)
Flowers and ornamental plants- Marigolds
- Lavender
- Rosen
Microorganisms
Nitrifying bacteria- Nitrosomonas: Convert ammonia into nitrite.
- Nitrobacter: Convert nitrite into nitrate, which is used by plants as a nutrient.
Mycorrhizal fungi
These promote root growth and nutrient uptake by plants.Beneficial organisms and soil organisms- Worms (e.g. earthworms) support composting and improve soil structure.
- Ladybugs: Eat aphids.
- Lacewings: Fight pests such as aphids and mites.
- Nematodes: Control soil-borne pests.
- Predatory mites: Controls spider mites and thrips.
- Woodlice: Provide nutrient-rich droppings.
- Springtails: food source for other aquatic creatures.
- Snails (eat all dead material, some species even eat kitchen waste, e.g. ramshorn snail).
Pollinators- Bees, such as honey bees and bumblebees, pollinate flowering plants and promote fruit formation.
- Butterflies
Parallel beekeeping or at least a beehive is a natural option in this system.Kompostwürmer- Red compost worms (Eisenia fetida) help decompose organic waste and produce nutrient-rich worm compost.
Small creatures in the water- Water fleas (Daphnia) help clean the water and control algae growth.
- Amphipods (e.g. Gammarus or amphipods / class Malacostraca, etc.), decompose organic material and contribute to water purification.
Integrating these creatures into an ecoponics system creates a healthy, balanced ecosystem that contributes to plant health, controls pests, and supports nutrient cycling.Image: Public Domain: https://www.flickr.com/photos/51896441@N04/32513567001
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