Fish production, water quality, and the role of nitrification as an ammonia removal process in intensively aerated hybrid catfish ponds

Abstract Six 0.1‐ha earthen ponds with 45 kW/ha of aeration capacity were stocked with hybrid catfish (Ictalurus punctatus x I. furcatus) ranging from 15,000 to 90,000 fish ha−1 in 15,000 fish ha−1 increments to analyze the effect of nitrogen loading on ammonia accumulation and fish production. Mini...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brian D. Ott, Eugene L. Torrans, Craig S. Tucker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.13094
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846142523032993792
author Brian D. Ott
Eugene L. Torrans
Craig S. Tucker
author_facet Brian D. Ott
Eugene L. Torrans
Craig S. Tucker
author_sort Brian D. Ott
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Six 0.1‐ha earthen ponds with 45 kW/ha of aeration capacity were stocked with hybrid catfish (Ictalurus punctatus x I. furcatus) ranging from 15,000 to 90,000 fish ha−1 in 15,000 fish ha−1 increments to analyze the effect of nitrogen loading on ammonia accumulation and fish production. Minimum dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration was maintained above 3.0 mg O2 L−1 to prevent hypoxia‐induced appetite reduction. Stocking density did not impact survival but decreased average fish harvest weight and increased food conversion ratio (FCR). Gross production increased with stocking density and ranged from 7249 to 35,674 kg ha−1. Average total (TAN) and un‐ionized ammonia (NH3) were not different among stocking densities despite greater nitrogen inputs in ponds with higher feeding rates. Nitrite (NO2−) and nitrate (NO3−) concentrations were significantly higher in ponds with higher stocking densities, suggesting that nitrification increased with nitrogen loading. Phytoplankton assimilation of ammonia is the primary ammonia removal process in traditional catfish ponds with modest fish densities and feeding rates. However, in intensively aerated ponds with high feeding rates, nitrification can become an important process for ammonia removal. These data indicate that small earthen hybrid catfish ponds with high aeration capacities can increase catfish production without ammonia accumulating.
format Article
id doaj-art-05bd6d1278f84ffbabcdb7915e02007a
institution Kabale University
issn 0893-8849
1749-7345
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
spelling doaj-art-05bd6d1278f84ffbabcdb7915e02007a2024-12-03T08:12:32ZengWileyJournal of the World Aquaculture Society0893-88491749-73452024-12-01556n/an/a10.1111/jwas.13094Fish production, water quality, and the role of nitrification as an ammonia removal process in intensively aerated hybrid catfish pondsBrian D. Ott0Eugene L. Torrans1Craig S. Tucker2United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit Stoneville Mississippi USAUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit Stoneville Mississippi USAUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit Stoneville Mississippi USAAbstract Six 0.1‐ha earthen ponds with 45 kW/ha of aeration capacity were stocked with hybrid catfish (Ictalurus punctatus x I. furcatus) ranging from 15,000 to 90,000 fish ha−1 in 15,000 fish ha−1 increments to analyze the effect of nitrogen loading on ammonia accumulation and fish production. Minimum dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration was maintained above 3.0 mg O2 L−1 to prevent hypoxia‐induced appetite reduction. Stocking density did not impact survival but decreased average fish harvest weight and increased food conversion ratio (FCR). Gross production increased with stocking density and ranged from 7249 to 35,674 kg ha−1. Average total (TAN) and un‐ionized ammonia (NH3) were not different among stocking densities despite greater nitrogen inputs in ponds with higher feeding rates. Nitrite (NO2−) and nitrate (NO3−) concentrations were significantly higher in ponds with higher stocking densities, suggesting that nitrification increased with nitrogen loading. Phytoplankton assimilation of ammonia is the primary ammonia removal process in traditional catfish ponds with modest fish densities and feeding rates. However, in intensively aerated ponds with high feeding rates, nitrification can become an important process for ammonia removal. These data indicate that small earthen hybrid catfish ponds with high aeration capacities can increase catfish production without ammonia accumulating.https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.13094biogeochemistryIctalurusnitratenitritenitrogenpond aquaculture
spellingShingle Brian D. Ott
Eugene L. Torrans
Craig S. Tucker
Fish production, water quality, and the role of nitrification as an ammonia removal process in intensively aerated hybrid catfish ponds
Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
biogeochemistry
Ictalurus
nitrate
nitrite
nitrogen
pond aquaculture
title Fish production, water quality, and the role of nitrification as an ammonia removal process in intensively aerated hybrid catfish ponds
title_full Fish production, water quality, and the role of nitrification as an ammonia removal process in intensively aerated hybrid catfish ponds
title_fullStr Fish production, water quality, and the role of nitrification as an ammonia removal process in intensively aerated hybrid catfish ponds
title_full_unstemmed Fish production, water quality, and the role of nitrification as an ammonia removal process in intensively aerated hybrid catfish ponds
title_short Fish production, water quality, and the role of nitrification as an ammonia removal process in intensively aerated hybrid catfish ponds
title_sort fish production water quality and the role of nitrification as an ammonia removal process in intensively aerated hybrid catfish ponds
topic biogeochemistry
Ictalurus
nitrate
nitrite
nitrogen
pond aquaculture
url https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.13094
work_keys_str_mv AT briandott fishproductionwaterqualityandtheroleofnitrificationasanammoniaremovalprocessinintensivelyaeratedhybridcatfishponds
AT eugeneltorrans fishproductionwaterqualityandtheroleofnitrificationasanammoniaremovalprocessinintensivelyaeratedhybridcatfishponds
AT craigstucker fishproductionwaterqualityandtheroleofnitrificationasanammoniaremovalprocessinintensivelyaeratedhybridcatfishponds