Ancient Roots
Some people count the Aztecan chinampas for the first evidence of aquaponics. Other refer to the ancient Egypt as the origin of this kind of cultivation. However, it is certain that the aquaponics has ancient roots.
In far eastern countries like China and Thailand polyculture-systems, in which the cultivation of vegetables and fish farming are combined, are known for a long time. Fish are often breaded in over flooded rice fields where usually the agricultural waste is recirculated as food into the fishpond.
Modern western beginnings
In the institute for new alchemy (New Alchemy Institute) scientist experimented with ‚Bioshelter‘ – a solar greenhouse that is transformed in an ecosystem, which manages the sewage water disposal by using it for the plant cultivation. This became the fundament for the permaculture and inspired like-minded scientists to enhance the concept of using sewage water as fertilizer for plant growth.
![Erfindung Aquaponics]()
The advantages of using fertile fishpond water for the irrigation of garden vegetables were already discussed, but not the symbiotic relationship in an automatic recirculating system. The formal interest to combine aquaculture with hydroponics started in the mid-seventies. In 1975 K. Allen and J.E. Ellis wrote one of the first essays on the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics. But it wasn’t until after another decade, that more research of the integration of these two sectors lead to the actual beginnings of the aquaponics.
In the late seventies the New Alchemy Institute published essays on aquaculture-systems and solar-algae-ponds. The further development of this research provided the integration of plants in this system.
The hydroponic aquaculture-pond was labeled the most advanced form of aquaculture that was developed by the Alchemy Institute by Ronald D. Zweig. It produced eatable fish as well as floating hydroponic lettuce.
In 1985 Mark R. MCMurty, at that time postgraduate at the North Caolina Stae University, together with Prof. Douglas C. Sanders, Paul V. Nelson and others the first known circulating (closed cycle), back and forth moving (overflowing and draining) aquaponic system. A so called integrated aqua-plant-culture-system that processes cichlid offal through bio sand-filters (bacteria and algae) to grow tomatoes and other vegetables.
From the mid-eighties and during the nineties McMurtry and Sanders developed the rotation-technology for the arid third world counties, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
In far eastern countries like China and Thailand polyculture-systems, in which the cultivation of vegetables and fish farming are combined, are known for a long time. Fish are often breaded in over flooded rice fields where usually the agricultural waste is recirculated as food into the fishpond.
Modern western beginnings
In the institute for new alchemy (New Alchemy Institute) scientist experimented with ‚Bioshelter‘ – a solar greenhouse that is transformed in an ecosystem, which manages the sewage water disposal by using it for the plant cultivation. This became the fundament for the permaculture and inspired like-minded scientists to enhance the concept of using sewage water as fertilizer for plant growth.
The advantages of using fertile fishpond water for the irrigation of garden vegetables were already discussed, but not the symbiotic relationship in an automatic recirculating system. The formal interest to combine aquaculture with hydroponics started in the mid-seventies. In 1975 K. Allen and J.E. Ellis wrote one of the first essays on the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics. But it wasn’t until after another decade, that more research of the integration of these two sectors lead to the actual beginnings of the aquaponics.
In the late seventies the New Alchemy Institute published essays on aquaculture-systems and solar-algae-ponds. The further development of this research provided the integration of plants in this system.
The hydroponic aquaculture-pond was labeled the most advanced form of aquaculture that was developed by the Alchemy Institute by Ronald D. Zweig. It produced eatable fish as well as floating hydroponic lettuce.
In 1985 Mark R. MCMurty, at that time postgraduate at the North Caolina Stae University, together with Prof. Douglas C. Sanders, Paul V. Nelson and others the first known circulating (closed cycle), back and forth moving (overflowing and draining) aquaponic system. A so called integrated aqua-plant-culture-system that processes cichlid offal through bio sand-filters (bacteria and algae) to grow tomatoes and other vegetables.
From the mid-eighties and during the nineties McMurtry and Sanders developed the rotation-technology for the arid third world counties, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.