Effects of aspirin on aquaponics tomato (Solanumly copersicum) production in laboratory condition

The experiment was conducted to visualize the effect of exogenous aspirin on tomato production in aquaponic system. Aspirin, a derivative of salicylic acid, acts as a potential non-enzymatic antioxidant and plant growth promoter, hence regulates plant physiology. The experiment employed three treatments (T) with three replications (R) each where, 60 ppm and 120 ppm aspirin were used in T1 and T2, respectively and Tcon was control with no aspirin. Media filled plastic containers (0.29m×0.30m×0.21m) as growbeds and plastic tanks of 120 liter capacity as fish tank were installed to construct each aquaponic systems indicating each replication. Tilapia, was stocked at 111 fish /m3 in the fish tank and fed commercial floating feed containing 30% protein at the rate of 3% body weight twice daily. In each replication, two tomato saplings were planted. Fish tank water was oxygenated with a 10 watt air pump, then waste water from tank was pumped to grow bed with a 12 watt submersible pump. Survival rates were 70, 85 and 50% in T1, T2 and Tcon respectively. While fish productions were 0.42, 0.34 and 40.49 (kg/m2/60 days) in T1, T2 and Tcon respectively. The water quality parameters were within the suitable ranges for tilapia as well as tomato in the aquaponic system. Foliar spray of aspirin was applied fortnightly. Tomato production was hampered with various diseases in all the treatments although the aspirin treated plant (T1 and T2) were free from few diseases. The highest tomato production was found 0.44 kg/m2/60 days in T2 followed by T1 (0.42 kg/m2/60 days) and Tcon (0.34 kg/m2/60 days). Noticeably, Plant growth and tomato production were higher in T2 and T1 with less disease prevalence than Tcon, suggesting positive impacts of aspirin on tomato. However, further research is needed to justify the aspirin doses at user level