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Optimization of fertilization rate for maximizing periphyton production on artificial substrates and the implications for periphyton‐based aquaculture
Author(s) -
Azim M E,
Wahab M A,
Van Dam A A,
Beveridge M C M,
Milstein A,
Verdegem M C J
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2109.2001.00613.x
Subject(s) - periphyton , biology , aquaculture , human fertilization , production (economics) , ecology , fishery , biomass (ecology) , fish <actinopterygii> , agronomy , economics , macroeconomics
The effects of four rates of application of fertilizer, with cow manure (3000 kg ha −1 ), urea (100 (kg ha −1 ) and triple super phosphate (TSP) (100 kg ha −1 ) (treatment F)), treatment F × 0.5 (treatment 0.5F), treatment F × 1.5 (treatment 1.5F) and treatment F × 2 (treatment 2F), on periphyton, plankton and water quality in tropical freshwater ponds were studied. The highest periphyton biomass in terms of dry matter (3.27 mg cm −2 substrate), ash‐free dry matter (2.06 mg cm −2 substrate) and chlorophyll a (7.49 µg cm −2 substrate) developed in treatment 1.5F. The ash content of periphyton was lower in treatment 1.5F (38% of dry matter) than in other treatments (57–66% of dry matter). Total ammonia and chlorophyll a of water increased with fertilization rate. Treatment 1.5F (cow manure, urea and TSP at rates of 4500, 150 and 150 kg ha −1 respectively) appears to be the optimum, yielding high quantity and quality periphyton. By supplying a substrate area for periphyton equivalent to the pond surface, it was estimated that this level of fertilization could support a fish production of around 5000 kg ha −1 y −1 , without recourse to supplementary food.