Aquaponics is the integration of which pair?

• A. Plants and water
• B. Ponds and lakes
• C. Hydroponics and aquaculture
• D. Hydroponics and plants

Answer: (C)

Aquaponics combines aquaculture with hydroponics. In this integrated system, fish are raised (aquaculture) and their waste provides nutrients for plants grown in a hydroponic setup. Beneficial bacteria transform the waste from ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates, which plants use to grow. As plants take up these nutrients, water quality improves for the fish, creating a continuous, balanced loop.

Other options don’t fit as well because they either describe plant growth in water without the animal production component (hydroponics and plants), refer to natural water bodies rather than a managed system (ponds and lakes), or simply name plants and water without the fish-based nutrient cycle (plants and water).