Meaning & use
aquaponics
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Meaning
noununcountable
A method of growing plants and raising fish together, where the fish waste provides nutrients for the plants.
Grammar: Uncountable; takes a singular verb, e.g. 'Aquaponics is gaining popularity.'
Aquaponics allows farmers to grow vegetables and fish in the same system.
In aquaponics, water from the fish tank is pumped to the plant beds.
She set up a small aquaponics system on her rooftop.
Common combinations
- aquaponics system
- The aquaponics system uses less water than traditional farming.
- aquaponics farm
- They visited an aquaponics farm to learn about sustainable agriculture.
- aquaponics gardening
- Aquaponics gardening is popular among urban dwellers.
Word family
- aquaponic adjective
- Relating to aquaponics, e.g. 'aquaponic lettuce'.
- aquaponically adverb
- In a manner related to aquaponics, e.g. 'grown aquaponically'.
Commonly confused: aquaponics or hydroponics? aquaponics or aquaculture?
aquaponics vs hydroponics
Hydroponics grows plants in water without fish; aquaponics includes fish.
aquaponics vs aquaculture
Aquaculture is the farming of fish alone, without plants.
Practice
What is the key difference between aquaponics and hydroponics?
Choose one answer.
Aquaponics combines fish farming with plant growing, while hydroponics grows plants in water without fish. The other options are incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aquaponics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.