Effect of Water Exchange Rate on Production, Water Quality, Effluent Characteristics and Nitrogen Budgets of Intensive Shrimp Ponds

Water exchange is routinely used in shrimp culture. However, there are few, if any, systematic investigations upon which to base exchange rates. Furthermore, environmental impacts of pond effluent threaten to hinder further development of shrimp farming in the U.S. The present study was designed to determine effects of normal (25.0%/d), reduced (2.5%/d) and no (Oo/o/d) water exchange on water quality and production in intensive shrimp ponds stocked with Penaeus serverus at 44 postlarvae/m2. Additional noexchange ponds were stocked with 22 and 66 postlarvae/m* to explore density effects. Water exchange rates and stocking density influenced most water quality parameters measured, including dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, Kjeldahl nitrogen, soluble orthophosphate, biochemical oxygen demand, phytoplankton and salinity. Reduced-exchange and no-exchange treatments resulted in reduced potential for environmental impact. Mass balance of nitrogen for the system indicates that 13-46% of nitrogen input via feed is lost through nitrification and atmospheric diffusion. Growth and survival were excellent in ponds with normal exchange, reduced exchange, and a combination of low density with no water exchange. A combination of higher stocking density and no water exchange resulted in mass mortalities. Mortalities could not be attributed to a toxic effect of any one water quality parameter. Production was 6,400 kg/ha/crop with moderate stocking density (44/m2) and reduced (2.5%/d) water exchange and 3,200 kg/ha/crop with lower stocking density (22/m2) and no water exchange. Results indicate that typical water exchange rates used in intensive shrimp farms may be drastically reduced resulting in a cost savings to farms and reduced potential for environmental impact from effluent.

[1]  M. Krom,et al.  Nutrient budget of a marine fish pond in Eilat, Israel , 1985 .

[2]  J. Bidwell,et al.  Ionization of Ammonia in Seawater: Effects of Temperature, pH, and Salinity , 1978 .

[3]  P. Sandifer,et al.  Intensive Culture Potential of Penaeus vannamei , 1987 .

[4]  Jiann-Chu Chen,et al.  Acute toxidty of ammonia to Penaeus japonicus Bate juveniles , 1991 .

[5]  D. Lightner.  Diseases of cultured penaeid shrimps , 1988 .

[6]  C. Boyd,et al.  Chemical Budgets for Polyethylene‐lined, Brackishwater Ponds , 1989 .

[7]  James H. Torrie,et al.  Principles and procedures of statistics: a biometrical approach (2nd ed) , 1980 .

[8]  P. Sandifer,et al.  Preliminary Comparisons of the Native Penaeus setiferus and Pacific P. vannamei White Shrimp for Pond Culture in South Carolina, USA , 1993 .

[9]  Pingjin Liu,et al.  Culture of Penaeus monodon in an intensified system in Taiwan , 1989 .

[10]  P. Sandifer,et al.  The relationship between feeding rate, paddlewheel aeration rate and expected dawn dissolved oxygen in intensive shrimp ponds , 1991 .

[11]  K. Shigueno.  Shrimp culture in Japan , 1975 .

[12]  C. Boyd.  Chemical Budgets for Channel Catfish Ponds , 1985 .

[13]  J. N. Sweeney,et al.  Intensive shrimp growout trials in a round pond , 1989 .

[14]  J. S. Hopkins.  Shrimp culture in the United States , 1992 .

[15]  Claude E. Boyd,et al.  Water quality management and aeration in shrimp farming , 1989 .

[16]  M. Chu,et al.  In vivo fluorescence, extracted fluorescence, and chlorophyll concentrations in algal mass measurements , 1974 .

[17]  G. Allan,et al.  Lethal levels of low dissolved oxygen and effects of short-term oxygen stress on subsequent growth of juvenile Penaeus monodon , 1991 .

[18]  R. P. Trussell.  The Percent Un-Ionized Ammonia in Aqueous Ammonia Solutions at Different pH Levels and Temperatures , 1972 .

[19]  J. N. Sweeney,et al.  Shrimp Yields and Economic Potential of Intensive Round Pond Systems , 1988 .

[20]  P. Sandifer,et al.  Ihhn Virus and Intensive Culture of Penaeus Vannamei: Effects of Stocking Density and Water Exchange Rates , 1993 .

[21]  Jiann-Chu Chen,et al.  Toxicity of Ammonia and Nitrite to Penueus monodon Juveniles , 1990 .

[22]  C. Boyd,et al.  Evaluation of the Influence of Water Exchange in Channel Catfish Ponds , 1983 .

[23]  J. N. Sweeney,et al.  Intensive shrimp production technology: the Oceanic Institute shrimp manual , 1991 .

[24]  C. Boyd,et al.  Feeding Rate, Water Quality, and Channel Catfish Production in Ponds , 1986 .

[25]  A. Stokes,et al.  Intensification of Shrimp Culture in Earthen Ponds in South Carolina: Progress and Prospects , 1988 .

[26]  S. Seitzinger,et al.  Denitrification and nitrous oxide production in a coastal marine ecosystem1 , 1984 .