[01] Tahseen Sayara, Environment and Sustainable Agriculture Department, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Palestine Technical University, Tulkarm, Palestine. [02] Basel Amarneh, Environment and Sustainable Agriculture Department, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Palestine Technical University, Tulkarm, Palestine. [03] Tasneem Saleh, Environment and Sustainable Agriculture Department, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Palestine Technical University, Tulkarm, Palestine. [04] Khaled Aslan, Environment and Sustainable Agriculture Department, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Palestine Technical University, Tulkarm, Palestine. [05] Rawaa Abuhanish, Environment and Sustainable Agriculture Department, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Palestine Technical University, Tulkarm, Palestine. [06] Asma Jawabreh, Environment and Sustainable Agriculture Department, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Palestine Technical University, Tulkarm, Palestine.

In this research, an integrated system for sustainable agriculture and environment was designed and built at the experimental farm of Palestine Technical University. The system included: a) Hydroponic unit, b) Aquaponic unit, c) Pilot plant for wastewater treatment, d) Home composter. Lettuce crop was used throughout the research to compare its yield under different agricultural systems. In this regard, lettuce was planted in hydroponic and aquaponic systems, whereas, conventional cultivation of the same crop was performed using direct irrigation with hydroponic solution, direct water effluent from fish rearing tank and effluent from wastewater treatment plant, in addition to control trial using fresh water and fertilizers. Lettuce production in each trial was evaluated using different parameters. The obtained results showed that hydroponic system is the most efficient one, where fast production with little resources could be achieved. Nevertheless, and even acceptable results were obtained in aquaponic system, it was clear that more attention should be applied as fish is affected by the surrounded ambient factors, mainly the temperature. Also, the wastes produced by fish may need more time to be degraded, or does not contain all nutrients needed by plants, thus hinder their growth. Both systems used around 80% less water than growing in soil, which is important especially with the scarcity of water resources for agricultural sector.

Hydroponic, Aquaponic, Agriculture, Sustainability, Environment

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