Effects of Fish Pond Sediment on Quality of Saline–Alkali Soil and Some Vegetables: Water Spinach, Lettuce, and Chili

With the rapid expansion of the aquaculture scale, the environmental pollution caused by the accumulation of fish pond sediment (FPS) has become increasingly prominent, making it urgent to establish sustainable resource utilization solutions. This study investigates the potential of using FPS as a s...

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Main Authors: Zhaohui Luo, Zhuoyue Zhang, Ying Guo, Luhao Lv, Dan Chen, Jiaming Duan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1670
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author Zhaohui Luo
Zhuoyue Zhang
Ying Guo
Luhao Lv
Dan Chen
Jiaming Duan
author_facet Zhaohui Luo
Zhuoyue Zhang
Ying Guo
Luhao Lv
Dan Chen
Jiaming Duan
author_sort Zhaohui Luo
collection DOAJ
description With the rapid expansion of the aquaculture scale, the environmental pollution caused by the accumulation of fish pond sediment (FPS) has become increasingly prominent, making it urgent to establish sustainable resource utilization solutions. This study investigates the potential of using FPS as a soil amendment to improve saline–alkali soil (SAS) quality and enhance vegetable growth, while also quantifying ecological benefits through Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) accounting. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different FPS mass percentages (0%, 20%, 40%, 80%, and 100%) on the growth of three vegetables (water spinach, lettuce, and chili) and soil quality. The results demonstrated that FPS addition at ≥40% significantly improves SAS quality, reducing the pH and salinity (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while enhancing organic matter, nutrient availability, and microbial activity. Among the treatments, 80% FPS maximized vegetable yields, with water spinach achieving the highest edible biomass (37.32 g). Compared to the control, nutritional quality under ≥80% FPS treatment showed substantial increases: vitamin C (133.33–307.03%), soluble sugars (49.97–73.53%), and protein (26.14–48.08%). An economic analysis revealed that 80% FPS with water spinach cultivation generated peak ecological benefits (274,951 CNY·ha<sup>−1</sup>; 185% above control). These findings provide a scientific basis and effective model for the resource utilization of FPS and the improvement of saline–alkali soil, offering significant implications for the sustainable development of agriculture and environmental protection.
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spelling doaj-art-5802b993f91941149bf0d24cb48a425e2025-08-20T02:45:42ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-07-01157167010.3390/agronomy15071670Effects of Fish Pond Sediment on Quality of Saline–Alkali Soil and Some Vegetables: Water Spinach, Lettuce, and ChiliZhaohui Luo0Zhuoyue Zhang1Ying Guo2Luhao Lv3Dan Chen4Jiaming Duan5College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaJiangsu Rainfine Environmental Science and Technology Company Limited, Nanjing 210009, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaDepartment of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USAWith the rapid expansion of the aquaculture scale, the environmental pollution caused by the accumulation of fish pond sediment (FPS) has become increasingly prominent, making it urgent to establish sustainable resource utilization solutions. This study investigates the potential of using FPS as a soil amendment to improve saline–alkali soil (SAS) quality and enhance vegetable growth, while also quantifying ecological benefits through Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) accounting. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different FPS mass percentages (0%, 20%, 40%, 80%, and 100%) on the growth of three vegetables (water spinach, lettuce, and chili) and soil quality. The results demonstrated that FPS addition at ≥40% significantly improves SAS quality, reducing the pH and salinity (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while enhancing organic matter, nutrient availability, and microbial activity. Among the treatments, 80% FPS maximized vegetable yields, with water spinach achieving the highest edible biomass (37.32 g). Compared to the control, nutritional quality under ≥80% FPS treatment showed substantial increases: vitamin C (133.33–307.03%), soluble sugars (49.97–73.53%), and protein (26.14–48.08%). An economic analysis revealed that 80% FPS with water spinach cultivation generated peak ecological benefits (274,951 CNY·ha<sup>−1</sup>; 185% above control). These findings provide a scientific basis and effective model for the resource utilization of FPS and the improvement of saline–alkali soil, offering significant implications for the sustainable development of agriculture and environmental protection.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1670ecological benefit assessmentfish pond sedimentsaline–alkali soilsoil ameliorationvegetable growth
spellingShingle Zhaohui Luo
Zhuoyue Zhang
Ying Guo
Luhao Lv
Dan Chen
Jiaming Duan
Effects of Fish Pond Sediment on Quality of Saline–Alkali Soil and Some Vegetables: Water Spinach, Lettuce, and Chili
Agronomy
ecological benefit assessment
fish pond sediment
saline–alkali soil
soil amelioration
vegetable growth
title Effects of Fish Pond Sediment on Quality of Saline–Alkali Soil and Some Vegetables: Water Spinach, Lettuce, and Chili
title_full Effects of Fish Pond Sediment on Quality of Saline–Alkali Soil and Some Vegetables: Water Spinach, Lettuce, and Chili
title_fullStr Effects of Fish Pond Sediment on Quality of Saline–Alkali Soil and Some Vegetables: Water Spinach, Lettuce, and Chili
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Fish Pond Sediment on Quality of Saline–Alkali Soil and Some Vegetables: Water Spinach, Lettuce, and Chili
title_short Effects of Fish Pond Sediment on Quality of Saline–Alkali Soil and Some Vegetables: Water Spinach, Lettuce, and Chili
title_sort effects of fish pond sediment on quality of saline alkali soil and some vegetables water spinach lettuce and chili
topic ecological benefit assessment
fish pond sediment
saline–alkali soil
soil amelioration
vegetable growth
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1670
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