Aquaponics

Leafy green lettuce in aquaponic garden

Let’s discover aquaponics, a revolutionary farming method that uses no chemical fertilizers.

Before there was aquaponics there was hydroponics. While working at the University of California, Berkeley, in the 1930s, plant nutritionist William Frederick Gericke began to popularize the idea that plants could be grown in a solution of nutrients and water instead of soil. He is credited with coining the term "hydroponics.” Gericke grew a 25-foot-high tomato vine with natural resources, such as water and nutrients. These results led to further research into the field. Following this, other scientists at the university realized many benefits related to soilless plant cultivation. One of the biggest advantages of hydroponics is that it uses less water because of the cycle of recirculation.

Similar to hydroponics, aquaponics uses only a fraction of water compared to traditional soil-based agriculture. Aquaponics cultivates a symbiotic relationship between plants and animals. Learn how one farm in Maryland is integrating this approach to grow high-quality produce for their community. By the end of this Module you will be able to take all that you have learned and create your own design for an aquaponic garden.