Practical Aspects of Chemistry in Pond Aquaculture

Abstract Relationships among liming, fertilization, water and soil chemistry, phytoplankton response, and aquatic animal production are still poorly understood. There is considerable confusion about critical nutrients and fertilizer formulations for pond fertilization. The literature does not support the high application rates of nitrogen often used. Nitrate is more desirable than ammonium or urea as a source of fertilizer nitrogen. Problems in ponds with water and soil quality that are related to feeding result primarily from high inputs of feed. Organic matter is decomposed mostly to stable humus during a growing season, and there is little accumulation of highly decomposable organic matter from one crop to the next. High input of fresh organic matter to the bottom during a crop period can cause high oxygen demand in sediment, but sediment removal between growth cycles does not greatly reduce soil oxygen demand for the next crop. Organic matter resuspension without erosion of mineral soil has the potent...