I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Aquaponics and Hydroponics

2. Course Prefix & Number:
HORT 2112

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 5

Lecture Hours: 4

Lab Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

In this course students will learn to design aquaponics and hydroponics systems, to raise fish and plants in those systems, and to monitor and control the quality of all inputs into the systems so that the plants and fish produced will be of such a quality that they will provide healthy, nutritious meals and high quality flower crops to the end-user. Special emphasis is placed on management decisions based on economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Students will spend time in the classroom learning about the systems and also participate in lab activities in the aquaponics and hydroponics greenhouses on campus.

5. Placement Tests Required:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

University of Minnesota, HORT 4601 Aquaponics: Integrated Fish and Plant Food Systems

3. Prior Learning - the following prior learning methods are acceptable for this course:
Portfolio

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Greenhouse Production, Diploma
Floral Design, Diploma
Horticulture, AAS Degree

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Evaluate and construct appropriate crop schedules.
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Summarize advantages and disadvantages of various hydroponic systems.
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Define and defend sustainable greenhouse practices.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Summarize advantages and disadvantages of various hydroponic systems;
• Compare and contrast recirculating aquaculture and hydroponic systems with traditional food production practices;
• Identify and correct crop disorders;
• Define and defend sustainable greenhouse practices;
• Create a ponics growing system;
• Distinguish between healthy and detrimental water chemistry;
• Summarize how fish and plant biology is affected by their environment;
• Demonstrate profitable crop production techniques;
• Maintain accurate crop records;
• Design a viable hydroponics/aquaponics growing system; and
• Explain and practice Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Hydroponics
• Plant selection
• Plant growth requirements
• Plant nutrition
• Temperature
• Light
• Root media                   
• Plant scheduling
• Plant propagation
• Pest management                  
• Vegetable production
• Crop selection
• Production requirements
• Fruit production
• Crop selection
• Production requirements
• System design
2. Aquaculture
• Species selection
• Scheduling
• Breeding
• Feed and feeding
• Diseases
• Harvesting
• System design
3. Aquaponics
• Types of systems
• System design
• Water quality
• Monitoring and control equipment
4. Good Agricultural Practices
• Harvesting
• Handling
• Packaging
• Post harvest care 

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Starting plants
• Seed germination
• Plug production
• Vegetative propagation
• Rooting cuttings
• Purchasing started plants
2.  Growing media analysis
   • Soilless mixes
   • Substrate evaluation
   • Water quality
3. Hydroponics system
   • Nutrient Film Technique systems
   • Media bed systems
   • Raft systems
   • Vertical systems
   • Other systems
4. Water and nutrient testing
   • pH
   • Electrical conductivity
   • Specific nutrient analysis
5. Effects of light quality on plants
   • Sunlight spectrum
   • LED and HID lighting systems
6. Fish culture
   • Identification of species used in aquaponics
   • Feed sources
   • Water quality analysis
7. Pest management
   • Pest identification
   • Environmental controls
   • Biological controls
   • Chemical controls
8. Commercial opportunities
   • Locating a food production business
   • Harvesting produce
   • Handling produce
   • Shipping produce