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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #139133

Title: CONSTANT, NOCTURNAL OR NO AERATION: EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY AND ZOOPLANKTON IN HEAVILY FERTILIZED NURSERY PONDS.

Author
item Ludwig, Gerald

Submitted to: University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Aquaculture Field Day
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2002
Publication Date: 10/9/2002
Citation: LUDWIG, G.M. CONSTANT, NOCTURNAL OR NO AERATION: EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY AND ZOOPLANKTON IN HEAVILY FERTILIZED NURSERY PONDS.. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF AQUACULTURE FIELD DAY. 2002. p.7.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sunshine bass fingerling production depends upon an initial high concentration of rotifers followed by high densities in crustacean zooplankton in culture ponds. Increased fertilization promotes increased amounts of zooplankton but often causes poor water quality which aeration may alleviate. The effects of constant, nocturnal only, and no aeration on water quality, and standing crops of phytoplankton and zooplankton in heavily fertilized nursery ponds were determined. Four 0.07 ha ponds were used for each treatment. Aeration was done with a ½ HP paddle wheel aerator. Rice bran (1,224 kg/ha) and 9-27-0 NPK liquid fertilizer (581 kg/ha) were applied to the ponds during 21 days after they were filled. Aeration improved some water quality variables. Dissolved oxygen concentrations were higher in the morning and lower during the afternoon in constantly aerated ponds and water temperatures were lowest in these ponds. Other water quality variables were adversely affected by constant aeration which had the highest average pH and higher concentrations of nitrite-N, nitrate-N, TAN, and un-ionized ammonia, which reached potentially lethal levels. Aeration increased concentrations of phytoplankton and zooplankton that are beneficial to sunshine bass. Rotifer concentrations were highest during the time sunshine bass depend upon them in the constantly aerated ponds. The larger crustacean zooplankton, copepod nauplii, copepods and cladocerans, which succeed rotifers, also had highest concentrations in ponds that were aerated, particularly those receiving constant aeration.