Manuring in Stocking Ponds

Advantages of fertilisation

• Fertilizers are natural or synthetic substances that are used in ponds to increase the production of the natural fish food organisms (phytoplankton, zooplankton).
• Promote the development of planktonic algae by increasing the availability of major nutrients, which provide food for many fishes.
• It  optimize cost efficiency
• It maintains a favourable growth environment for culture species.
• It also leads to the development of animals which feed on algae, including some fish such as the silver carp and Nile tilapia.
• Fertilizer dissolves the chemicals present in the water, where:

1. Chemicals are rapidly taken up by the phytoplankton present in water, either to be stored, or to be assimilated and used for growth, reproduction, etc.
2. Chemical is attracted and becomes attached to the organic and mineral particles present both in the pond water and in the upper layers of the bottom mud or soil.

• It also assists the development of bacteria, responsible for the decomposition of organic matter. The decomposition of organic matter may in turn release more nutrients back into the mud or water.
• Most of these phenomena are controlled by water quality, n particular temperature, pH, alkalinity and dissolved oxygen level.
• Liming and manuring are the two main types of fertilization of the fish pond. They are briefly explained here.

Applying of poultry manure in stocking pond

 

Manure and fertilizer application schedule, item quantity schedule kg/ha

 

Sl.No	Item	Quantity kg/ha	Schedule
1	Cowdung	2000	Initial dose
2	Cowdung	1000	Monthly
3	Urea	25	Monthly
Or
4	Ammonium sulphate	30	Monthly
Or
5	Calcium ammonium nitrate	30	Monthly
6	Single super phosphate	20	Monthly
Or
7	Triple super phosphate	8	Monthly

 

 

Manuring and fertilizer application schedule based on soil nutrient status

 

Sl.No	Pond types	Organic carbon %	Available nutrients (mg/100g)	Total qty of fertilisers/ manures for ponds (kg/ha/yr)
1	Low productive	Below 0.5	N: 25-50 P< 3	Calcium ammonium nitrate Or Urea Single super phosphate Or Triple super phosphate Rock phosphate   Cow-dung Or Gobar gas slurry	500-650   225-290 315-405   110-145 300-400   10,000-12,000   20,000-30,000
2	Medium productive	0.5-1.5	N:50-75 P-3-6	Cal.ammon. nitrate Or Urea Single super phosphate Or Triple super phosphate   Cow dung or Gobar gas slurry	350-500   156-225 219-315   75-110   8,000-10,000   16,000-20,000
3	High productive	1.5-2.0	N>75 P>6	Urea Or Ammonium sulphate Or Triple super phosphate   Cow dung Or Gobar gas slurry	112-156   225-219   54-76   5,000-8,000   10,000-16,000

 

Applying of organic manure in stocking pond