Estimation of Salt Leachate in Integrated Agri-Aquaculture System (IAAS)

Objectives: 

1. To determine the potential benefits of using a modular farming system on groundwater quality by monitoring salt and nutrient leaching below the root zone.
2. To determine the fate of reject brine from a farm desalination unit after it is directly discharged into sandy soil.
3. To determine the economic and environmental benefits and costs of the practice of diluting groundwater with desalinated water and disposal of the resultant reject brine.
4. To determine the impact of the reject brine and aqua-brine on soil’s quality characteristics using different irrigation regimes and halophytic crops.

Project/Experimental Details: 

Date of Sowing: 15 November 2022

Experimental design: Systematic non-replicated treatment arrangement 

Crops: Salicornia

Irrigation systems: Drippers, Bubblers 

Irrigation treatments: Groundwater (13,000 ppm), RO brine (25,000 ppm), Aqua-brine (25,000 ppm)

Plot Size: 9 x 9 m

Project/Experiment Team: 

• ICBA
• EAD (Abu Dhabi)
• Plant and Food Research Ltd. (New Zealand)
• Massey University (New Zealand)