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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #275763

Title: Approximate water and chemical budgets for an experimental in-pond raceway system

Author
item Brown, Travis
item BOYD, CLAUDE - Auburn University
item CHAPPELL, JESSE - Auburn University

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2012
Publication Date: 8/1/2012
Citation: Brown, T.W., Boyd, C.E., Chappell, J.A. 2012. Approximate water and chemical budgets for an experimental in-pond raceway system. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 43:526-537.

Interpretive Summary: Better understanding of water quality dynamics for pond-based intensive cultured systems for catfish production is needed. Budgets for water, nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon (OC), and dissolved oxygen (DO) were estimated over a production season for an In-pond Raceway System for channel catfish and hybrid catfish production. Paddlefish and Nile tilapia were produced as a co-cultured species. The average feed conversion ratio for catfish was1.50. Seepage and overflow removed only small portions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and OC, while denitrification and ammonia volatilization removed large amounts of nitrogen. Organic carbon was consumed in respiration, and some OC and nitrogen accumulated in sediment. Phosphorous was harvested in fish and absorbed by pond sediment. Total respiration within the system exceeded the DO produced by photosynthesis. Diffusion and mechanical aeration aided in maintaining appropriate DO levels for fish production.

Technical Abstract: There is increasing interest in intensive production of Ictalurid catfish in the United States and a better understanding of water quality dynamics in intensive culture is needed. Budgets for water, nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon (OC), and dissolved oxygen (DO) were estimated over a production season (March-November) for an In-pond Raceway System for channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and hybrid catfish I. punctatus × I. furcatus with co-culture of paddlefish Polyodon spathula and Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. In addition to rainfall and runoff, 70 cm of water were applied from a well to offset evaporation and seepage. Production of each kilogram of live catfish required 1.50 kg of feed and released 51.7 g nitrogen, 9.7 g phosphorous, and 0.45 kg OC. Metabolic wastes resulting from production of 1 kg of catfish led to synthesis of an additional 2.18 kg of OC by photosynthesis. Consequently, 1 kg of live catfish resulted in 2.63 kg OC. Harvest of catfish accounted for 34.0% of nitrogen, 37.1% of phosphorous, and 29.5% of OC applied in feed. Seepage and overflow removed only small portions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and OC, while denitrification and ammonia volatilization removed large amounts of nitrogen. Organic carbon was consumed in respiration, and some OC and nitrogen accumulated in sediment. Phosphorous was harvested in fish and absorbed by pond sediment. Total respiration within the system exceeded the DO produced by photosynthesis while diffusion and mechanical aeration aided in maintaining appropriate DO levels for fish production.