Use of lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera) for nutrient retrieval from pond mud | |
| Author | Aye Aye Mon |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AQ-00-23 |
| Subject(s) | Fish ponds--Fertilization Lotus |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AQ-00-23 |
| Abstract | This study was conducted during February to June 2000 to investigate nutrient removal efficiency by lotus (N nucifera) from fish pond mud and to evaluate economic return of lotus cultivation in fish pond at the Asian Institute of Technology. This experiment was conducted in twelve compartments (3 m x 2 m) in an earthen pond with a randomized complete block design. There were four treatments with three replicates each: no lotus planted (treatment A); lotus planted at 0.5, 1, and 2 rhizomes/m2 (treatments B, C, and D, respectively). There was no nutrient input to the lotus cultivation system, and lotus growth depended solely on the nutrients contained in mud of the fish pond, which was used for intensive fish culture three months prior to the present experiment. Increased density of planted rhizomes did not result in any significant differences in net and gross production of both total lotus biomass and rhizomes among treatments B, C and D (P>0.05). The net and gross biomass production reached more than 120 t/ha/year in treatment B and C. The highest net and gross rhizome production was achieved in treatment C, reaching 35 and 38 t/ha/year, respectively. Lotus recovered 1.73-2.5 % of total nitrogen (10.1-14.5 gTN/m2 ) and 0.63 - 0.99 % of total phosphorus (1.2 - 1.6 g TP/m2 ) from pond mud in treatments B, C and D. The reduction of both total nitrogen and total phosphorus in pond mud in treatment C was significantly higher than that in the control. Partial budget analysis showed that net return from lotus cultivation in fish pond ranged from 9,234 to 12,599 US$/ha/year, without significant differences among treatments B, C and D. This study has successfully demonstrated that the practicality to cultivate lotus in fish pond for removing nutrients from pond mud and achieve high economic return. The lotus cultivation in fish pond feasible technically, environmentally and economically |
| Year | 2000 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AQ-00-23 |
| 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) | Yi, Yang; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Lin, Chang K wei.;Yakupitiyage, Amararatne; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of New Zealand; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2000 |