U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Leetown, West Virginia Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications
- January 2024
- July 2023
- January 2023
- July 2022
- January 2022
- June 2021
- January 2021
- July 2020
- January 2020
- August 2017
- January 2018
- July 2018
- February 2019
- July 2019

Title:   Author  item
                                            Adler, Paulitem
                                            WADE, EDWARD - FRESHWATER INSTITUTEitem
                                            HARPER, JASON - DEPT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONitem
                                            Takeda, Fumiomiitem
                                            SUMMERFELT, STEVEN - FRESHWATER INSTITUTE
  Submitted to: International Journal of Recirculating Aquaculture
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/1999
                                    Publication  Date: 1/15/2000
                                    Citation: Adler, P.R., Wade, E.M., Harper, J.K., Takeda, F., Summerfelt, S.T. 2000. Economic analysis of an aquaponic system for the integrated production of rainbow trout and plants. International Journal of Recirculating Aquaculture 1 (1):15-34.Interpretive Summary: When a product is produced, waste products are also typically produced, and they can pollute the environment.  If these waste products can be used as resources for the production of other products, pollution to the environment can be limited and production costs reduced.  We have developed a way to efficiently recover the nutrients in the water from a rainbow  trout facility and produce high value food produts.  This system can remove phosphorus to levels typical in conventional wastewater treatment alternatives and generate an income in the process.  The integration of the fish and plant production system produces economic cost savings over either system alone.  Shared cost savings come from spreading out operating and capital costs over the two systems.  This technology will be useful for fish farmers who are looking for alternatives to deal with the wastes generated during the production of fish.
                                Technical Abstract: Conventional treatment alternatives for phosphorus in wastewater, whether they employ chemical precipitation, physical removal, or land application technologies, represent a significant addition cost to the owner of an aquaculture operation.  Only plant-based removal of nutrients has the potential to generate additional revenues, which can offset treatment  costs.  The objective of this analysis was to describe the economic relationship between a 22,680-kg per year recirculating trout production system and a hydroponic treatment unit capable of reducing phosphorus concentration levels in the fish farm effluent to less than 0.1 mg/L.  The integration of the fish and plant production system produces cost savings over either system alone.  Shared cost savings come from spreading out operating  costs (e.g. labor and management, water, nutrients, and overhead charges) and capital costs (e.g. backup generator, used truck,  and office equipment) over the two systems.  System integration reduces the combined capital and operating costs by about 12 and 16%, respectively.  The investment analysis demonstrates the profitability of this combined system over 10 years.  Net present value analysis shows positive returns after year 5.  The results of the internal rate of return analysis shows that for a total investment of $254,748 this system can potentially provide a return of 10-24% for project lengths of 5-10 years.  The greenhouse economics clearly drive the system with a significantly higher potential return on investment (about 80% higher revenue with similar capital and operating costs) than the fish system alone.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov