| Volume: 8; Issue: 2; December 2026 |
|---|
| Title : PRODUCTIVITY AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF LOW-COST TILAPIA-CROP INTEGRATION IN AQUAPONICS SYSTEM: A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES |
| Authour(s): Recie B. Bonaos, Ma. Jugie R. Ramos, Joshua Karl B. Bista, Charlote Francia Camacho and Harold Panti |
| Keywords: Aquaponics, Cost benefits, Crop, Food security, Sustainability, Tilapia, Water parameters. |
| Abstract: Productivity and profitability of integrating tilapia and crop farming for small-scale farmers in Catanduanes in three months observation in 2m x 2m x 1.5m tanks. Utilizing 8 x 16 inches Styrofoam board and an 8-ounce Styrofoam cup. Treatment 1 performed a significant growth performance in tilapia and crops, as evidenced by the higher mean weight of 133.93 g and 96.90 g, respectively. Moreover, Treatment 1 had the highest total production of both tilapia (2009 g) and lettuce (3899.6 g). There is a significant difference in tilapia weight across treatments. Treatment 1 obtains the maximum growth rates. Authors observed a significant difference in tilapia weight and in crop weight while maintaining a water quality, with pH of 7.46, a temperature of 29.78 °C, and moderate levels of electrical conductivity (306.22 μS/cm-1) and total dissolved solids (161.22 ppm). While pH and temperature showed weak correlations with tilapia and crop weights, all parameters remained within suitable ranges for aquaculture, moreover, there is a gross income of P11, 171.26 and ROI of P5518.51, reflecting economic viability. The study highlights that integrating tilapia and lettuce in aquaponics systems offers both ecological and economic benefits making it a viable for sustainable aquaponics farming. |
| DOI: https://doi.org/10.46505/IJBI.2026.8201 |
| How to cite this article: Bonaos R.B., Ramos M.J.R., Bista J.K.B., Camacho C.F. and Panti H. (2026). Productivity and economic viability of low-cost tilapia-crop integration in aquaponics system: A sustainable alternative livelihood for rural communities. International Journal of Biological Innovations. 8(2): 147-155. https://doi.org/10.46505/IJBI.2026.8201 |
Pages: 147-155 | Viewed: 290 | Downloaded: 34| Download: PDF (3611KB) |
