Assessment of Fertilizer Application Intervals for Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy Lacepede) in Ponds

Puan PENGSENG; Claude E BOYD

Authors

Puan PENGSENG Division of Aquatic Animal Production, School of Agricultural Technology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand
Claude E BOYD Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University, Alabama 36849

Keywords:

Phosphorus, fertilizer, freshwater fish ponds, water quality, giant gourami, Osphronemus goramy Lacepede

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in twelve 400 m² earthen ponds at Walailak University, Thailand, to investigate the effects of fertilizer application intervals on production performances of giant gourami and pond water quality. Fertilizer applications at 1, 2, 3 and 4-week intervals were replicated three times in a completely randomized design. Ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate were used at application rates of 9 kg N plus 4.5 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 (N:P₂O₅ = 2:1) as a source of nitrogen and phosphorus. Fish of an average weight of 2.2 ± 0.1 g were stocked at 1 fish/m². After the 120 day trial was finished, the results showed that the survival rate was not significantly different (p > 0.05) but final weights, growth rates and net productions were significantly different (p < 0.05). Fertilizer applications at 4-week intervals showed the highest (average ± SD) final weights, growth rates and net productions which were 37.6 ± 3.4 g, 0.3 ± 0.03 gd^-1 and 330 ± 2.5 kg/ha respectively. However, most water quality parameters were not significantly different (p > 0.05) and were in the range for optimal growth of fish. In addition, the result from regression analysis showed that fertilizer application intervals gave a high positive correlation with fish productions (r= 0.76, p < 0.01). In conclusion, the results suggest that fertilizer applications at 4-week intervals could have practical use in the giant gourami ponds to produce fish ranging from 2.2 ± 0.1 - 37.6 ± 3.4 g size during the 120 day production.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

S Natasuwan. Freshwater Fish Culture. Theppitak Publishing. Bangkok, Thailand, 2004, p. 400.

J Saijaidee. 2002, Economic analysis of giant gouramy production in NakhonSawan province in the production year 2000/2001. Dissertations Master’s Thesis. Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.

CE Boyd and CS Tucker. Pond Aquaculture Water Quality Management. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, Massachusetts, 1998, p. 700.

W Wudthisin and CE Boyd. Determination of the phosphorus fertilization rate for bluegill ponds using regression analysis. Aquaculture Research 2005; 36, 593-9.

CA Boyd, P Pengseng and CE Boyd. New nitrogen fertilization recommendation for bluegill ponds in the southeastern United States. North American Journal of Aquaculture 2008; 70, 308-13.

A Murad and CE Boyd. Experiments on fertilization of sport-fish ponds. Progressive Fish-Culturist 1987; 49, 100-7.

FR Moormann and S Rojanasoonthon. The Soils of the Kingdom of Thailand: Explanatory text of the General Soil Map. Report SSR-72A. Soil Survey Division, Department of Land Development and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation, Bangkok, Thailand, 1972, p. 105.

CE Boyd and CS Tucker. Water Quality and Pond Soil Analyses for Aquaculture. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Alabama, USA, 1992, p. 183.

LS Clesceri, AE Greenberg and AD Eaton. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th ed. American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C., USA, 1998.

A Gross, CE Boyd and CW Wood. Nitrogen transformations and balance in channel catfish ponds. Aquacultural Engineering 2000; 24, 1-14.

Development Core Team. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, 2006, p. 315.

K Masuda and CE Boyd. Chemistry of sediment pore water in aquaculture ponds built on clayey Ultisols at Auburn, Alabama. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 1994; 25, 396-404.