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2026 Vol.44, Issue 1 Preview Page

Research Article

Effect of Different Aquaponic Systems and Presence of Volcanic Stone Filtering Material on Nutrient Concentration in Water and Geranium Growth
Hyoun-Jin Lee1
,
Minkyung Kim1
,
MG Rabbani1
,
Seoa Yoon2
,
Eunyoung Choi2
,
Yeo Joong Yoon3
,
Ki Young Choi14*
1Department of Agriculture and Industries, Kangwon National University Graduate School, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
2Department of Agricultural Science, Korea National Open University, Seoul 03087, Korea
3Uni Plantech Co. Ltd., Gimje 54324, Korea
4Department of Smart Farm and Agricultural Industry, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
*Corresponding Author
28 February 2026. pp. 26-37
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Abstract

Aquaponics combines hydroponic cultivation and aquaculture, where water quality is a primary consideration for both plant growth and fish health. In many cases, the filtering material is helpful tool to maintain and optimize water quality for plant and fish. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different types of aquaponic systems and the presence of volcanic stone as a filtering material on the water quality and the growth of geranium pot flower plants. Goldfish was used. The experiment was held in a controlled environment for six weeks, and three types of aquaponic systems were used: deep water culture (D), modified deep water culture (M), and nutrient film technique (N). Each type of system had two different settings, based on the presence of the volcanic stone filtering material (V). Hence, a total of six different treatments, D0, DV, M0, MV, N0, and NV, were used, where 0 and V indicate the absence and presence of volcanic stones in an aquaponic system, respectively. The results showed that NH4+ and NO3– concentrations of aquaponic water were increased in all treatments compared to their initial stage. After the treatment period, the concentrations of NO3– and K+ were higher in D0, M0, and N0 treatments compared to those where volcanic stones were present (DV, MV, and NV). However, after the treatment period, Ca2+ ions showed decreased concentration compared with their initial stage in all treatments, except M0 and MV. The EC level steadily increased in all treatments over time; at six weeks after treatment, it was around 0.4 dS·m-1 in all treatments. However, pH fluctuated during the treatment period. At six weeks after treatment, the plant height, leaf length, leaf width, and SPAD value of geranium plants were not significantly affected by the presence of volcanic stone in different types of aquaponic systems (D, M, and N). Nevertheless, the leaf area of the geranium was higher in N0 and NV treatments than in the others. Furthermore, total root length, total root surface area, and the number of root tips were higher in NV-treated plants. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) analysis showed that the maximum growth parameters of plant responses were closer to the N0 and NV treatments. These results suggest that comparatively, treatment NV is preferable for maintaining sustainable water quality and the growth of geranium plants in an aquaponic system.

Keywords
deep water culture
goldfish
modified deep water culture
NH4+
NO3‒
nutrient film technique
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국원예학회
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Volume : 44
  • No :1
  • Pages :26-37
  • Received Date : 2025-07-24
  • Revised Date : 2025-09-04
  • Accepted Date : 2025-09-15
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20250068
Journal Informaiton Horticultural Science and Technology Horticultural Science and Technology
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