Nutrient status of sediment from integrated fish farming systems

Abstract

In the present study, the sediment quality of five integrated fish ponds during and after culture operation were analysed. The pH of all the pond sediments ranged from 7.8 to 8.1 during culture operation and 7.4 to 8.4 after culture.
The level of organic carbon and organic matter was higher in all manured integrated ponds (0.25 –0.47 %) except in poultry and sheep waste ponds (0.16 %) during culture operation. The nitrogen level was high in cattle liquid manured pond (111 kg/ac ) followed by pig manured pond (102 kg/ac ) during
fish culture operation. The level of phosphorus from integrated ponds ranged from 4.0 to 4.5 kg/ac during culture and increased level (4.5 – 5.5 kg /ac) was observed after culture operation. The level of potassium was 108 kg/ac in poultry
manured pond during fish culture operation, but this level was increased to 370 kg/ac after culture. The micronutrients such as Ca, Mg++, Na+ and K+ were also observed. The fish production from the different integrated systems were studied and analysed . The results of the investigation showed varying level
of nutrient status in sediments of different integrated fish ponds