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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294988
Title: Chapter 19: Sport fish pond fertilization

Author
item NEAL, J - Mississippi State University
item KROGER, ROBERT - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2012
Publication Date: 6/26/2012
Citation: Neal, J.W., Kroger, R. 2012. Chapter 19: Sport fish pond fertilization. In: Impact of Nutrient Input on Production. p. 245-258.

Interpretive Summary: Fertilization of small impoundments is necessary to enhance the biological productivity of the system. This chapter describes mechanisms to enhance productivity of small impoundment systems by utilizing fertilization.

Technical Abstract: There are about 2.6 million bodies of water less than 40 ha in the USA, which cover an area of more than 3 million hectares. These systems are largely privately-owned, yet they are an important economic component of many municipalities. In 2006, freshwater anglers spent more than $24 billion on gear, equipment, travel, food, and other fishing-related items, and a survey in 1991, the last year to distinguish between fishing locations, suggested that 35% of anglers fished in small ponds less than 4 ha. This estimate of economic impact does not include systems larger than 4 ha and smaller than 40 ha, which encompasses a large portion of “small impoundments”, nor does it include systems larger than 40 ha yet smaller than 200 ha, the lower delineation for lakes and reservoirs. Hence, the importance of ponds and other small bodies of water to the economy of the USA is considerable. This chapter creates an understanding of fertilization of these small impoundment systems, specifically in regards to sports fisheries management. The concepts herein can also be used for aquaculture ponds depending on the species of choice for culture.