Use of Lithothamnium sp. (Algen® Oceana) in Penaeus vannamei culture

The process of preparing the soil for ponds is a very important phase of production. The selection of the type of limestone used in the pH correction process will directly influence the quality of the soil, water, natural food production and the development of Penaeus vannamei. The objective of this study was to evaluate a substitute for one of the types of limestone used in pond liming, originated from the limestone algae Lithothamnium sp., commercially named Algen® (Oceana, Tutóia, Maranhão, Brazil), verifying its efficiency in relation to dolomitic limestone. The study was conducted at the shrimp farm Monólitos Aquacultura Ltda (Banabuiú, Ceará, Brazil). The monitoring and evaluation of the used products, soil physicalchemical properties, physical-chemical and biological analyses of the water, and the zootechnical performance of the shrimp were performed during two production cycles between November 2017 and July 2018 in three ponds with an area of 1.0 ha. The results showed that the use of Algen® showed similar action to the parameters obtained with the use of dolomitic limestone, both in terms of soil and water quality aspects and for the zootechnical performance of P. vannamei. However, a better zootechnical performance of P. vannamei was observed when Algen® was used in the 500 kg/ha concentration.