Iron supplementation and management in aquaponic systems: A review

Abstract

Iron is one of the essential micronutrients for plant development and fish growth in aquaponic systems. Iron is an essential element for photosynthesis, DNA synthesis, and many other cellular functions for plants. With regard to fish, it is an integral component of proteins involved in cellular respiration and oxygen transfer. Aquaponic systems are often iron deficient due to low amounts of iron in commercial fish feeds. Therefore, iron needs to be supplemented to ensure optimal plant performance. Adding these supplements requires close management of the system, and careful selection of chelating substances as the Fe-chelate bioavailability is environment dependent. Reports of iron supplementation and management in aquaponic systems are limited. This review critically examines iron supplementation strategies, different sources of iron and factors influencing iron uptake for optimal biomass production. The effectiveness of different iron chelates is also discussed. Furthermore, optimum ranges of dissolved iron concentrations for different components in an aquaponic system are reported. This review aims to provide a better understanding of iron optimisation strategies to minimise iron deficiency and enhance biomass growth. Keywords: Aquaponics, Chelates, Iron, Iron supplementation, Micronutrient