Sistema integrado de produção entre capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum) cultivar BRS Kurumi, tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) e Pangasius (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

Abstract

The integration of fish farming and agriculture is a sustainable production alternative, usingwastewater from fish-rearing ponds for fertigation of plant crops, promoting the efficient useof water resources. This study aimed to evaluate the production of dwarf elephant grass(Pennisetum purpureum), cultivar BRS Kurumi, in an integrated system with Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus) and pangasius (Pangasius hypophthalmus). The experiment wasconducted between October and December 2024 at the Aquaculture and Integrated ProductionSystem Laboratory of the Fisheries Engineering Department of the Federal University of Ceará,in Fortaleza, Ceará. The integrated production system involved the raising of Nile tilapia andpangasius, whose effluents were used for fertigation of the grass. The experimental structurecomprised six 1000-L fiberglass tanks for raising the fish and an additional tank for effluentstorage. Water quality was monitored weekly using a multiparameter probe and colorimetrickits. The grass was grown in four 1.92 m² plots, divided into two blocks: two fertigated witheffluent and two irrigated with clean water. Fish and grass biometrics were performed every 14days. Elephant grass developed better when irrigated with fish farm effluent; tilapia grew morethan pangasius. Water quality changed during cultivation, with the pH becoming acidic in thetilapia tanks and toxic ammonia and nitrite concentrations reaching values above andtransparency below those recommended for fish. The conclusion is that it is possible to producefish and reuse fish farm effluent for elephant grass production, thus improving water use andreducing environmental impacts