An assessment of nitrogen and phosphorous losses through seepage in fertilized aquaculture ponds | |
| Author | Perera, Anusha Dilhani |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AQ-12-02 |
| Subject(s) | Fish ponds--Fertilization Nitrogen Phosphorus Seepage |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for thedegree of Master of Science inAquaculture and Aquatic Resource Management, School of Enviroment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AQ-12-02 |
| Abstract | The present thesis studywas conducted in three 169.42 m2earthen ponds at Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, to investigate nitrogen and phosphorus losses through seepage during the culture of sex reversed all male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)at 3fish per m3 during initial experiment period. There were three treatments in triplicate each: (A) nutrient losses at 0.4-0.6 m depth range (B) nutrient losses at 0.6-0.8 m depth range (C) nutrient losses at 0.8-1.0 m depth range. Total nitrogen lost to air during the experiment period was also calculated.The study showed that 6.58 % of nitrogen and 17.15 ± 1.32 % of phosphorus were lost through seepage during initial experiment period. Nutrient budget revealed that there were significant difference (P<0.05) of both total nitrogen and total phosphorusseepage in different depths.Total phosphorus seepage was significantly higher than total nitrogen seepage. Nitrogen was become zero at 1.09 m bottom depth and phosphorous seepage was at 1.12 ± 0.04 m of bottom depth. Average monthly water seepage calculated from weekly sampling, it was 19.8% or 22.71cm/month from total input water. Initial soil analyses were showed that pond bottom was consists with 46.4 ± 0.7% of clay soil with 28.74 ± 1.13 % of moisture and 1.19 ± 0.04 gcm-3of bulk density, because ofwater seepage was depended on soil characteristics.The estimated N and P budgets in both inputs showed that fertilizer was the major source of nutrient accounting for 47.3 ± 0.76% N and 50.6 ± 1.65% P and were not significantly different (P>0.05). Totalnitrogen lost air to showed 3.066 ± 0.06 % including NH3 volatilization was 2.026% at 28 °C and 7.076 ± 0.4 pH. Water column results showed 8:1 of TN and TP during the initial experiment period. The study demonstrated nutrient losses in semi-intensive Nile tilapia culture system. However observation results, references results and mass balance equation showed balance nutrient budget in semi-intensive tilapia aquaculture ponds including main nutrient losses, such as nutrient seepage, nutrient in water column, nutrient deposited on soil, total nitrogen lost to air and nutrient deposited on fish body. |
| Year | 2012 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AQ-12-02 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AQ) |
| Chairperson(s) | Yakupitiyage, Amararatne; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Gallardo, Wenresti G.;Dabbadie, Lionel; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Development Bank - Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2012 |