Two staff members tend vegetables grown without soil at an ecological agriculture company in Dongheng village in Luoshe township of Deqing county, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Wang Shucheng/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Aquaponics, a method of growing fish and vegetables in a closed water system, has been sprouting up in recent years in Deqing county of Zhejiang province.

In an aquaponics system, fish waste — which decomposes in circulating water — provides nutrients for plants, while the plants help purify the water to keep the fish healthy. It achieves a harmonious ecological balance between plants, animals and microorganisms.

Since this ecological agriculture project landed in Deqing in 2018, it is estimated to have produced an output of 100,000 kilograms of fish and 400,000 to 500,000 kilograms of vegetables per year.

With the help of rapidly developing intelligent agriculture, the system has improved the efficiency of agriculture and raised farmers' incomes.

A staff member tends vegetables without soil in Deqing county, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Wang Shucheng/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A staff member tends vegetables without soil in Dongheng village in Luoshe township of Deqing county, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Wang Shucheng/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A staff member checks the growth of an Australian gemstone perch at an ecological agriculture company in Dongheng village in Luoshe township of Deqing county, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Wang Shucheng/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A staff member tests the quality of water at an ecological agriculture company in Dongheng village in Luoshe township of Deqing county, Zhejiang province. [Wang Shucheng/For chinadaily.com.cn]