Hydroponically integrated fish and plant production system (aquaponics) is a new production method that has received
attention by growers and researchers recently. In order to investigate the effect of different plant substrates (perlite/
cocopeat ratios) on strawberry growth and development in hydroponic and aquaponic systems, a greenhouse experiment
was carried out as a factorial trial with a completely randomized design in three replications. Results of statistical
analysis showed that in hydroponic system, leaf, crown and root fresh weight, runner length, individual leaf weight, chlorophyll
a and b content (in high cocopeat ratios), total chlorophyll and carotenoid content (in high cocopeat ratios), were
significantly higher than aquaponic system. Increase of cocopeat to perlite ratio in hydroponic system caused a higher
chlorophyll a and b content in leaves and this increase was accompanied with increase of plant growth. Results of this
research revealed that most of the measured features were better in hydroponic system than in aquaponic system. In addition,
the perlite or cocopeat substrates individually were not appropriate for cultivation but their combination was found to
be suitable as substrate for cultivation.