Effects of Agricultural Limestone on Water Chemistry, Phytoplankton Productivity, and Fish Production in Soft Water Ponds

摘要

Five ponds treated with agricultural limestone and five control ponds were stocked with Tilapia aurea and fertilized every 2 weeks with ammonium nitrate and triple superphosphate. Initially, total hardness and total alkalinity of the waters in the 10 ponds averaged 7.8 and 13.7 mg/liter, respectively. Liming caused a fourfold increase in total hardness and total alkalinity. Limed ponds had higher rates of phytoplankton productivity and yielded a 25% greater weight of fish than control ponds.