Effect of substrate type on growth performance of pepper plant (Capsicum annuum) and guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) in an aquaponic system

Mohammadrezaei, ِDavoud; Mahdi, Amirhossein

doi:10.22034/nrsj.2026.241175

Effect of substrate type on growth performance of pepper plant (Capsicum annuum) and guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) in an aquaponic system

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

ِDavoud Mohammadrezaei ¹

Amirhossein Mahdi ²

¹ Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran.

² Fisheries Department, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Malayer University,

10.22034/nrsj.2026.241175

Abstract

Aquaponics is a sustainable plant production system combined with fish farming. In this study, in order to design an aquaponic system for pepper cultivation, two different substrates including glass wool and zeolite, were used for plant establishment and their role on the performance of pepper plant and guppy fish. For this purpose, two aquaponic systems were designed and established. During the period, stable biological conditions were considered for each system in terms of light and temperature. After the end of the period, growth parameters (specific growth rate, weight gain, condition factor and survival) in fish and some plant characteristics (root length, number of leaves and flowering) were measured. The results showed that fish growth was different in both systems and in this respect, the substrate with glass wool had better performance, while the pepper plant showed better efficiency, especially the root length, in the aquaponic system containing zeolite substrate. According to the results, the type of substrate for plant establishment in an aquaponic system can affect the efficiency and performance of plants and fish. Accordingly, glass wool substrate is suitable for fish growth and can lead to improved growth indicators.

Keywords

Combined cultivation of plants and fish

fish

pepper plant

growth efficiency

Subjects