Effects of Dietary Ferric EDTA Levels on Vegetables and Mirror Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var</i>. <i>specularis</i>) in Aquaponics System

This study investigated the effects of dietary iron supplementation on water quality, plant growth, and fish health in an aquaponic system over 90 days. Iron supplementation significantly improved plant growth, with increased plant height, stem diameter, leaf count, and fruit yield in tomatoes (<...

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Main Authors: Yu Liu, Zhipeng Dou, Chengwei Ji, Qingbo Zhou, Jun Zhao, Ke Wang, Chao Chen, Qing Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/792
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author Yu Liu
Zhipeng Dou
Chengwei Ji
Qingbo Zhou
Jun Zhao
Ke Wang
Chao Chen
Qing Liu
author_facet Yu Liu
Zhipeng Dou
Chengwei Ji
Qingbo Zhou
Jun Zhao
Ke Wang
Chao Chen
Qing Liu
author_sort Yu Liu
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the effects of dietary iron supplementation on water quality, plant growth, and fish health in an aquaponic system over 90 days. Iron supplementation significantly improved plant growth, with increased plant height, stem diameter, leaf count, and fruit yield in tomatoes (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>) and pak choi (<i>Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis</i>) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The water pH fluctuated with varying iron content, and higher iron levels promoted better plant growth by improving iron availability (<i>p</i> < 0.05). During the first 60 days, all red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels increased, but the growth and nutritional composition of mirror carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var. specularis</i>) showed no significant differences. By day 90, fish in the T3 group (800 mg/kg iron) exhibited significantly reduced growth and feed conversion rates (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Histological analysis of liver tissue indicated iron-induced liver damage; additionally, excessive iron intake suppressed erythropoiesis, leading to lower red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The results indicate that moderate iron supplementation improves plant growth, but excessive iron can negatively impact fish health, particularly liver function and blood formation. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing iron levels in aquaponic systems.
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spelling doaj-art-13438caa9096425ea2a4228dd1c5d3f72025-08-20T03:43:50ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-03-0115679210.3390/ani15060792Effects of Dietary Ferric EDTA Levels on Vegetables and Mirror Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var</i>. <i>specularis</i>) in Aquaponics SystemYu Liu0Zhipeng Dou1Chengwei Ji2Qingbo Zhou3Jun Zhao4Ke Wang5Chao Chen6Qing Liu7College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaThis study investigated the effects of dietary iron supplementation on water quality, plant growth, and fish health in an aquaponic system over 90 days. Iron supplementation significantly improved plant growth, with increased plant height, stem diameter, leaf count, and fruit yield in tomatoes (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>) and pak choi (<i>Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis</i>) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The water pH fluctuated with varying iron content, and higher iron levels promoted better plant growth by improving iron availability (<i>p</i> < 0.05). During the first 60 days, all red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels increased, but the growth and nutritional composition of mirror carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var. specularis</i>) showed no significant differences. By day 90, fish in the T3 group (800 mg/kg iron) exhibited significantly reduced growth and feed conversion rates (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Histological analysis of liver tissue indicated iron-induced liver damage; additionally, excessive iron intake suppressed erythropoiesis, leading to lower red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The results indicate that moderate iron supplementation improves plant growth, but excessive iron can negatively impact fish health, particularly liver function and blood formation. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing iron levels in aquaponic systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/792aquaponics systemferric EDTAmirror carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var. specularis</i>)
spellingShingle Yu Liu
Zhipeng Dou
Chengwei Ji
Qingbo Zhou
Jun Zhao
Ke Wang
Chao Chen
Qing Liu
Effects of Dietary Ferric EDTA Levels on Vegetables and Mirror Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var</i>. <i>specularis</i>) in Aquaponics System
Animals
aquaponics system
ferric EDTA
mirror carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var. specularis</i>)
title Effects of Dietary Ferric EDTA Levels on Vegetables and Mirror Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var</i>. <i>specularis</i>) in Aquaponics System
title_full Effects of Dietary Ferric EDTA Levels on Vegetables and Mirror Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var</i>. <i>specularis</i>) in Aquaponics System
title_fullStr Effects of Dietary Ferric EDTA Levels on Vegetables and Mirror Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var</i>. <i>specularis</i>) in Aquaponics System
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Dietary Ferric EDTA Levels on Vegetables and Mirror Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var</i>. <i>specularis</i>) in Aquaponics System
title_short Effects of Dietary Ferric EDTA Levels on Vegetables and Mirror Carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var</i>. <i>specularis</i>) in Aquaponics System
title_sort effects of dietary ferric edta levels on vegetables and mirror carp i cyprinus carpio var i i specularis i in aquaponics system
topic aquaponics system
ferric EDTA
mirror carp (<i>Cyprinus carpio var. specularis</i>)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/792
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