The scale of production in this study is recommended as a small-scale family business. The Internal rate of returns (IRR) was 19% and net present value (NPV) was US$4,026. This shows that an aquaponic production can generate positive net cash flow before year 5. Net income at the end of the first year amounted to a loss of US$2,009 with a payback period of 4 years and 5 months. The total annual projected kale yield was 360kg and the total annual projected yield of tilapia was 120kg. The cost-benefit analysis applied an inflation rate of 14.10%, and a discount rate of 16% over 15 years. Economic feasibility was projected in the IAVC system for 3m3 fish tank volume and 10.8m2 grow bed area. In contrast, the water quality parameters in IAVC were more suitable for plants growth compared to DWC. Water conservation, revenue diversification, location-independent food production, and a reduced reliance on synthetically derived fertilizer salts have been identified as potential benefits of coupled aquaponic production. Due to the presence of a mechanical and biological filters in DWC, the water quality was more efficient for fish growth than in IAVC without any filter. Coupled aquaponics is the integration of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and hydroponic cropping systems (HCS) into one system with shared culture water. This shows that mineral supply was not efficient, thus, there was a need for nutrient supplement. Most water quality parameters in DWC were not suitable either for the fish or plant and there were significant symptoms of nutrient deficiency in kale. It can be concluded that aquaponic systems consume 2.6 to 3.4% of total water volume as the daily water requirement. Water consumed in DWC was 2.6% of the total water volume in the system per day. In DWC after 14 weeks, total kale yield was 5.3kg/m2 in one crop harvest and the fish weight gain was 17kg. Most water quality parameters in IAVC were maintained within ranges suitable for the fish and plant. Water consumed in IAVC was 3.4% of the total water volume in the system per day. In IAVC after 14weeks, total kale yield was 2.1kg/m2 in the first crop harvest, 4.4kg/m2 in the second crop harvest, and the total fish weight gain during the two crop harvests was 9kg. In each system, tilapia was stocked at 10kg/m3 while kale seedlings were planted at 25 plants/m2 density. acephala) with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in a greenhouse setting. Both systems combined growing kale (Brassica oleracea var. Two aquaponic systems types were designed: integrated aqua-vegeculture (IAVC) system, and deep-water culture (DWC) system (pilot-scale evaluation). In this study, an attempt was made to assess the productivity of aquaponic systems by measuring the biomass output of fish and crop, water requirement, as well as net-financial gain of the production unit. The aquaponic system is a sustainable way of integrating soilless crop farming and freshwater fish farming in a single system to reduce water consumption and pollution, increase food production per unit area, thereby rendering economic benefits to the farmer. Crop production and aquaculture play important roles in food security and water withdrawals and contribute to over 70% of global water consumption.
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