Bottom soil characteristics, survival and production of shrimp in low-salinity, inland ponds in Alabama and Florida (USA)
2015
Chumnanka, Nattiya | Boyd, Claude E. | Viriyatum, Rawee | Tunkijjanukij, Suriyan
PURPOSE: Effects of pond bottom soil characteristics on survival and production of shrimp were investigated for low-salinity shrimp farms: Greene Prairie Aquafarm (GPA) near Forkland, Alabama and Gulf American Shrimp (GAS) near Howard’s Creek Landing, Florida. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Farm histories, management methods, and records of stocking rates, survival rates, and production were provided by farm owners. Pond soil samples were collected in 2012 and analyzed for particle size, pH, carbonate, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total sulfur, extractable phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, aluminum, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Soils at both farms exhibited a wide range in pH, clay content, and concentrations of chemical constituents. Correlations (P > 0.05) were not found between soil variables and shrimp survival and production. Some ponds typically had poor survival and production, and at GPA, these ponds were higher in clay (P < 0.05) than other ponds. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in other soil variables between ponds with low survival and production and other ponds at either farm. Annual draining and dry-out of ponds at GAS did not result in lower organic C concentration in soil than at GPA where ponds were not drained. CONCLUSIONS: Soil of high clay content was the only soil variable associated with frequent, low shrimp survival and production in some ponds at GPA. Bottom soil characteristics were not related to low survival and production typically observed in some ponds at GAS. Draining and dry-out of ponds between production cycles is not necessary for preventing high soil organic C concentrations.
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