Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

to be fair AM, i think the ground system should be done in the ground, not in a dirt filled bed.

Allow the lateral roots to do their thing, the plant will put more energy into lateral roots in search of water than in visible plant growth. the plot will loose water to the dryer surrounds as would happen in real life.

Just section off a plot of dirt the same size as your AP grow bed, plant the same plants, practice water wise dirt methods like mulch, and water enough to stop visible wilting in the dirt.

Best way (quickest and easy to measure) is to use a blue barrel with a hose fitted to the bottom, mark the half way point as 100 liters and re-fill every time it reaches the 100 liter point. note the number of re-fills.

Id plant some thing like basil and tommies

alright, that defines the parameters of the experiment, simply water usage, in side by side sites

I simply intend to demarcate an area using cement block and fill it with dirt of good quality... not in a GB (waste of a good GB )


Yep, that is all I am after at present...

Thanks for the ideas and input Steve... all of that is along the lines of what I am thinking of, and it help to get input as it forces me to 'define' the project in my mind

We all know ap is better all we have to do is convince the rest of the world

and in today's climate of water shortages in Australia what better way to get a person's attention is to prove that it is more water efficient

taking soil out of the equation is good too..especially if it`s under 5ft of water as it is here

Sheez,
Not good!
I would hate to think of the flood that would produce 5' water any where in west Oz too much sand here!
Hope you get to dry out soon!

what about an indoor test? like have a 50L(fish tank) x 50L (Grow Bed), and then have a 50L soil pot filled with 50L of popular soil(miracle grow). under the same light, and same plaints(you might consider clones, just to be fair), and just monitor water in put, and plant growth. i think i might just go and do that later on.

-df