Biologization of agriculture through aquaponics, aeroponics, and plant growth stimulants
Sustainable agriculture solution combining aquaponic and aeroponic growing systems with plant growth stimulants to improve yields on degraded soils, reduce fertilizer and pesticide use by 20-30%, and enable year-round environmentally friendly crop production.
Overview
This solution addresses the biologization of agriculture through three integrated approaches: aquaponic and aeroponic growing systems for use on degraded or urban soils, and plant growth stimulants that enhance crop resilience and reduce chemical inputs. The aeroponic systems can be powered by solar energy, with surplus electricity sold under a green tariff, and use fresh water only within the root zone to minimize evaporation. Aquaponics enables simultaneous cultivation of fish and plants, creating a closed-loop ecosystem. The plant stimulants help crops mobilize internal resources to strengthen immunity under stress conditions such as drought, frost, soil depletion, pests, and diseases, reducing fertilizer and pesticide application rates by an estimated 20-30%.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Aeroponic and aquaponic systems designed for degraded soils and urban environments
- Solar-powered operation with potential surplus energy export under green tariff arrangements
- Closed water loop using fresh water only within the root system, eliminating evaporation losses
- Plant growth stimulants tested across multiple crop types with optimized application phases
- Technological process control unit for system monitoring and management
- Tank mixture protocols combining stimulants with reduced chemical inputs to lower costs and environmental impact
- Patents obtained for stimulant formulations based on prior validation studies
Technology readiness level
Prototypes of the aquaponic and aeroponic systems are currently being developed, with cooperation agreements already signed with interested farms. The plant stimulants have been validated on multiple plant types, with optimal application phases and effectiveness determined, resulting in patented formulations. Future validation will focus on reducing chemical application rates, comparing biological products, recommending tank mixtures, and developing a mobile installation for year-round use with integrated nutrition and plant protection systems.
About Kherson State Agricultural University
Kherson State Agricultural University is a public Ukrainian higher-education institution with a 150-year history, around 4,000 students, and more than 300 academic and research staff. It is practice-oriented, with an experimental production site, research fields, educational and laboratory facilities, and departments linked to production organizations. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, the university relocated from Kherson to Kropyvnytskyi, where it continues teaching, research, postgraduate training, and employer engagement while retaining Kherson as its legal base. Research is supported through Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science, state-budget programs, competitive public funding, and international collaboration. Its patent record and employer-facing structures provide a foundation for applied research and knowledge transfer.
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