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The effects of artificial substrates on freshwater pond productivity and water quality and the implications for periphyton-based aquaculture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2002

Mohammed Ekram Azim
Affiliation:
Fish Culture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Mohammed Abdul Wahab
Affiliation:
Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
Marc C. J. Verdegem
Affiliation:
Fish Culture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Anne A. van Dam
Affiliation:
Fish Culture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Jules M. van Rooij
Affiliation:
Fish Culture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Malcolm C. M. Beveridge
Affiliation:
Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Scotland FK9 4LA, UK
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Abstract

As a first step in assessing the viability of periphyton-based fish production in South Asian pond aquaculture systems, the effects of artificial substrates on development of periphyton and on water quality were evaluated. Earthen ponds (10 × 7.5 m) were provided with an artificial substrate constructed from poles of either bamboo, kanchi or hizol tree branches (1.0 m2 artificial substrate per m2 pond surface). Higher periphyton biomass, in terms of dry matter (DM) (4.9 mg cm–2) and chlorophyll a (11.5 μg cm–2) developed on hizol and bamboo, respectively. Periphyton ash content was higher on hizol (41%) than on the other two substrate types (29%). Protein content of the periphyton growing on bamboo (38% of ash-free dry matter (AFDM)) was 50% higher than that on the other two substrate types. Maximum periphyton productivities of 1.01, 1.38 and 1.03 g C m–2 d–1 were obtained for bamboo, hizol and kanchi substrates, respectively. Taxonomic composition of periphyton showed a rapid development of a relatively stable community with few differences between the substrate types. In total, 56 genera of algal periphyton and 35 genera of phytoplankton were identified. Based on a periphyton productivity estimate of 2.2–2.8 g AFDM m–2 d–1, periphyton alone can sustain an estimated fish production of 5000 kg ha–1 year–1 through the addition of a substrate area equivalent to 100% of the pond surface area.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Elsevier, IRD, Inra, Ifremer, Cemagref, CNRS, 2002

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