<p>This study aimed to investigate the influence of cultivation methods on the morpho-physiological traits, water use efficiency (WUE), and chemical composition of lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon citratus</i>) as a medicinal plant with antibacterial and antifungal activities. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with five replications and evaluated the effects of hydroponic, aquaponic, and soil cultivation systems on lemongrass. The results showed that the cultivation systems had a significant impact on the lemongrass nutrient uptake. The hydroponics had the highest N concentration, while the aquaponics showed the highest P and Mg levels. Conversely, the soil system displayed the highest Ca, Na, Fe, and Zn concentrations. In hydroponics and aquaponics, lemongrass yield increased by 92.3% and 40%, respectively, than the soil system. Conversely, daily water usage was approximately 2 and 1.3 times lower in hydroponics and aquaponics, respectively, than the soil medium. WUE in the hydroponics and aquaponics was 3 and 1.5 times higher than the soil system. In hydroponics and aquaponics systems, we recorded a 23.6% and 60.4% increase for β-Myrcene, 21.3% and 15.1% increase for geranial, 41.9% and 31.1% increase for geraniol, 78.9% and 60.6% increase for geranyl acetate, as well as 78.8% and 60.6% for juniper camphor, respectively, compared to soil system. The concentration of neral and nerol increased by 12.9% and 30.7% in aquaponics compared to the soil system. Aquaponics and hydroponics are potential alternative techniques for growing medicinal plants. Further research should assess the economic feasibility of cultivating medicinal plants using these two methods.</p>