I-Corps: Iron supplementation hydrogel plant substrate for aquaponics

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发硝酸盐去除和补铁系统，以改善水共生农业系统中植物的生长。水菜共生是将水产养殖和水培法结合成一个闭环系统，循环用水，使用水产养殖（鱼）废物中的天然肥料，与传统农业相比，利用更少的空间全年生产更多的食物。目前，水培系统使用合成铁螯合物和不可生物降解的植物基质。水培系统通常缺乏铁，而铁是合成叶绿体和其他必要代谢过程所必需的植物营养素。当缺铁时，水培种植者损失利润，因为植物生长受到阻碍，由于营养吸收效率低下，水不能被植物完全清洁给鱼。所提出的技术与水共生系统相结合，以丰富植物的必需铁，可用于商业或家庭规模的系统，并可能提供可生物降解的材料，以改善水共生系统。这个I-Corps项目是基于开发一种用于水培农业应用的含铁水凝胶。该技术旨在去除水中的氮和磷，就像海绵一样。水产养殖业使用水培法防止养殖生产过程中产生的过量含氮废物污染当地水道。然而，水培种植者需要补充植物所需的必需营养素，而这些营养素不是由鱼的排泄物提供的。水培系统缺乏铁，而铁是合成叶绿体和其他几个基本代谢过程所必需的植物营养素。最常见的铁补充剂是螯合铁（Fe-EDTA, Fe-DTPA, Fe-EDDHA），以使铁溶解在水中。然而，铁螯合剂是自然界中不存在的合成化合物，有机种植者希望避免添加任何合成化学物质。所提出的技术是一种铁补充方法，其采用向植物根部提供铁的材料。此外，水凝胶是由农业工业回收的副产品制成的。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a nitrate removal and iron supplement system to improve the growth of plants in aquaponic agriculture system. Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics into one closed-loop system that recycles water, employs natural fertilizer from aquaculture (fish) waste, and utilizes less space to produce more food year-round compared to conventional agriculture. Currently, aquaponic systems use synthetic iron chelate and non-biodegradable plant substrates. Aquaponic systems are commonly deficient in iron, an essential plant nutrient required to synthesize chloroplasts and other essential metabolic processes. When deficient in iron, aquaponic growers lose profits because plant growth is stunted, and the water is not cleaned fully by the plants for the fish due to inefficient nutrient uptake. The proposed technology integrates with aquaponic systems to enrich plants with essential iron, may be used in both commercial- or home-scale systems, and may provide biodegradable materials to improve aquaponic systems.This I-Corps project is based on the development of an iron-containing hydrogel for aquaponic agricultural applications. The proposed technology is designed to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from water and acts like a sponge. The aquaculture industry uses aquaponics to prevent polluting local waterways with excess nitrogenous waste generated during aquaculture production. However, aquaponic growers are required to supplement essential nutrients required by plants that are not supplied from fish waste. Aquaponic systems are deficient in iron, an essential plant nutrient required to synthesize chloroplasts and several other essential metabolic processes. The most common iron supplement is chelated iron (Fe-EDTA, Fe-DTPA, Fe-EDDHA) to allow the iron to dissolve in water. However, iron chelates are synthetic compounds not found in nature, and organic growers want to avoid adding any synthetic chemicals. The proposed technology is an iron supplement method that employs a material that provides iron to the plant roots. In addition, the hydrogel is made from recycled by-products from the agriculture industry.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.