陶粒浮床系统酶活性变化与水质净化效果相关性分析

研究了陶粒浮床床体和浮床植物根部蛋白酶、脲酶、磷酸酶及脱氢酶活性变化与净化效果之间的关系。结果显示,陶粒浮床对精养池塘水体中TN、NO-2-N、NH+4-N、TP、CODMn、IP均有明显的净化效果;浮床床体和植物根部4种酶活性随着季节的变化均呈现先升高后降低的趋势。相关性分析发现,浮床床体和植物根部酶活性之间存在显著相关性;植物根部磷酸酶活性与池塘水体中TP、IP和CODMn去除率之间均显著正相关,脲酶活性与TN、NO-2-N去除率之间显著正相关,蛋白酶活性与CODMn去除率之间显著正相关,脱氢酶活性与CODMn、TN去除率之间存在显著正相关性。浮床床体磷酸酶活性同样与水体中TP、IP和CODMn去除率之间均显著正相关,脲酶活性与TN、NH+4-N去除率之间显著正相关,蛋白酶活性与CODMn去除率之间显著正相关,而浮床床体脱氢酶活性与CODMn、TN去除率之间相关性不显著。     

增氧对池塘沉积物酶活性的影响

比较研究了微孔和机械2种增氧养殖模式下4种沉积物酶活性的动态变化,并分析了所测酶活性与养分因子的相关性。结果表明:(1)4种酶活性随水温的季节性变化较为明显,其中蛋白酶活性与脲酶活性变化呈单峰状曲线,蔗糖酶各月波动较大,过氧化氢酶活性整体呈上升趋势。(2)池塘沉积物中酶活性对不同增氧方式有明显的响应,2种增氧均可提高4种沉积物中酶活性,其中微孔增氧提高池塘沉积物中酶活性的效果显著(P<0.05)。(3)所测得的沉积物养分因子与酶活性相关性不一,其中蛋白酶与沉积物中有机质、全磷、速效氮和速效磷含量呈显著正相关(P<0.05),脲酶活性与全氮和速效氮含量呈显著正相关(P<0.05),过氧化氢酶与全磷和速效磷含量呈显著正相关(P<0.05),蔗糖酶活性与所测养分无显著相关性。     

增氧对池塘沉积物酶活性的影响

比较研究了微孔和机械2种增氧养殖模式下4种沉积物酶活性的动态变化,并分析了所测酶活性与养分因子的相关性。结果表明：（1）4种酶活性随水温的季节性变化较为明显,其中蛋白酶活性与脲酶活性变化呈单峰状曲线,蔗糖酶各月波动较大,过氧化氢酶活性整体呈上升趋势。（2）池塘沉积物中酶活性对不同增氧方式有明显的响应,2种增氧均可提高4...     

梅溪湖表层沉积物营养盐和有机质分布特征及污染评价

梅溪湖属于城市浅水湖泊，其沉积物特征可反映湖泊的水生态环境状况，对防止湖泊富营养化具有重要意义。2020年11月至2021年7月，分季节对梅溪湖表层沉积物（0～10 cm）进行了采样，分析了沉积物TN、NH4+、NO3-、TP、有效磷（AP）和有机质（OM）等指标的时空分布特征和污染程度。结果表明：沉积物（0～10 cm）TN、NH4+、NO3-、TP、AP和OM的平均含量依次为1654.68± 754.22 mg/kg、24.66± 20.02 mg/kg、13.60± 2.33 mg/kg、512.60± 281.39 mg/kg、8.58± 6.81 mg/kg和2.84± 1.43 %。湖区东部营养物和有机质含量最高。人类活动对梅溪湖表层沉积物营养盐的空间分布有着较大的影响。梅溪湖沉积物TP和NO3-含量在春季最高（4月份），冬季（1月）最低。AP含量在春季（4月）最高，在夏季最低（7月份）。沉积物TN、NH4+和OM含量没有明显的季节差异。梅溪湖沉积物TN和TP的含量变幅分别为667～4000 mg/kg和184～1475mg/kg，均已超出我国东部浅水湖泊沉积物的营养物参考阈值范围；TN和TP的标准指数变幅分别为1.21～7.27和0.31～2.46，TN全部超标，梅溪湖生态环境质量受N元素的影响较为严重，对湖泊生态系统安全构成了一定的威胁。相关分析表明，沉积物OM与TN、TP、AP、NH4+、NO3-均显著正相关，说明沉积物有机质的降解和释放对梅溪湖氮磷营养盐具有重要影响。     

鱼藕轮作对池塘底泥微生物群落代谢功能的影响

借助BIOLOG检测法,研究了栽种莲藕池塘及养殖黄颡鱼池塘底泥微生物群落代谢功能多样性的变化。结果表明:种植莲藕后底泥中有机质(OM)含量分别减少11.45%(深度0~5 cm)、19.12%(深度5~10 cm),莲藕的生长能促进根区底泥有机质的消耗,对底泥中的总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)均有一定的吸收作用;种植组与对照组在养殖周期后的平均颜色变化率(AWCD)均高于初始值,且种植组AWCD变化率更显著,表明栽种莲藕的底泥微生物群落代谢活性更;对0~5 cm与5~10 cm底泥微生物群落代谢活性比较发现同一环境不同深度微生物群落代谢活性不同;养鱼组(0~5 cm)底泥中微生物Biolog代谢功能多样性显著降低(P<0.05),莲藕种植可保持底泥较高的微生物代谢功能多样性。     

海水人工湿地脱氮效果与系统内基质酶、微生物分析

利用人工湿地系统探讨了海水养殖外排水中不同形态氮的去除效果,分析了系统内部微生物空间分布、基质酶活性对氮去除效率的影响,深入研究了系统内部各微生物间相互作用、基质酶活性与微生物空间分布关系。选择互花米草为人工湿地植物,种植密度为64株/m2;基质填料选择细纱、高炉矿渣和珊瑚石。在3种不同工况条件下,研究人工湿地系统中氮的去除效果、微生物数量和基质酶活性。结果显示,系统对 TN、NH4-N 平均去除率分别为(25.02±12.69)%、(82.91±17.51)%;系统中不同基质层次的微生物数量和脲酶、脱氢酶活性不同,基质中、上层好氧微生物数量和脲酶、脱氢酶活性显著大于下层,系统下行池中、上层硝化细菌、亚硝化细菌显著高于下层,中、上层反硝化细菌数量明显低于下层;细菌总数与 TN(R2=0.50)和 NH4-N(R2=0.61)去除率存在一定正相关性,基质脲酶与 TN 去除率存在显著正相关性(R2=0.86)。研究结果将有助于理解海水人工湿地处理系统中氮的迁移转化机制。     

精养池塘水中胞外酶动态特征及与环境因子的相关性

采用荧光模拟底物法监测了精养池塘水中碱性磷酸酶(AP)、β-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、亮氨酸氨肽酶(LAP)以及脂肪酶(LIP)活性动态变化特征,分析了胞外酶活性在不同粒径生物上的分布,并探讨了池塘水中酶活性与水质理化因子之间的相关性。结果显示:养殖周期内,草鱼池塘水中β-葡萄糖苷酶活性为0.18~1.63μmol/(L·h),亮氨酸氨肽酶活性范围为0.28~1.66μmol/(L·h),碱性磷酸酶活性为0.96~3.49μmol/(L·h),脂肪酶活性范围为1.48~2.68μmol/(L·h)。主成分分析结果表明,池塘水中胞外酶活性呈现明显的月份动态变化。4种典型胞外酶在池塘水中不同粒径生物上的酶活性分布不同。β-葡萄糖苷酶和亮氨酸氨肽酶活性的主要来源是3μm粒径的浮游生物,碱性磷酸酶活性主要来源为0.22μm粒径的游离态,脂肪酶活性主要来源于0.22μm的游离态和3μm粒径浮游生物。养殖池塘水中β-葡萄糖酶活性与NH_4~+-N、TN、TP、IP、COD_(mn)、Chl.a呈极显著正相关,与DO呈极显著负相关;脂肪酶活性与DO呈极显著正相关,与pH呈极显著负相关;亮氨酸氨基肽酶活性与NH_4~+-N、NO-2-N、TN、TP、IP、COD_(mn)、Chl.a呈显著正相关,与T和pH呈显著正相关,与DO呈显著负相关。     

珠三角地区密养淡水鱼塘水质状况分析与评价

池塘养殖是珠三角地区淡水渔业生产的主要形式。2012年5月～12月对草鱼（Ctenopharyngodon idellus）、云斑尖塘鳢（Oxyeleotris marmoratus）、大口黑鲈（Micropterus salmoides）和乌鳢（Channa argus）等该地区几种主要密养淡水品种鱼塘水质进行监测,分析水体理化环境因子,并选取pH、溶解氧（DO）、非离子氨（NH3）、氨氮（NH4^＋-N）、硝酸盐氮（NO3^--N）、亚硝酸盐氮（NO2^--N）、总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）、高锰酸盐指数（CODMn）和透明度等10项因子,采用单项污染指数和负荷比对监测参数进行单项评价,用综合污染指数法对各池塘水质进行整体评价。结果表明4种密养淡水鱼塘营养盐负荷高问题突出,NH3、NO3^--N、NO2^--N、TN和TP为池塘中的主要污染因素;草鱼池塘主要污染物为NH3和TN,其污染负荷合计为37.58%;云斑尖塘鳢池塘主要污染物为NH3、NO3^--N和TN,其污染负荷达59.37%;大口黑鲈池塘的主要污染物为NH3、TN、NO3^--N和NO2^--N,其污染负荷高达66.80%;乌鳢池塘的主要污染物为TN、NO3^--N、TP和NH3,其污染负荷达59.43%;对CODMn的分析与评价结果显示,池塘水体中还原性有机质含量高;由综合污染指数判定,所有池塘水体均为＂重污染＂等级,并超出警戒水平。     

上海地区池塘沉积物中氮、磷、有机碳及重金属风险评价

为综合评估上海地区池塘沉积物环境质量状况,2016-2019年对上海地区36个养殖场池塘采集沉积物样品360个,检测和分析沉积物中总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）、总有机碳（TOC）及重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr、Hg和As含量。研究结果表明,池塘0~10 cm层和10~20 cm层沉积物中TN、TP、TOC及各重金属均值分布无显著差异（P>0.05）,0~20 cm层沉积物（干重）中TN、TP和TOC平均含量分别为（873.37±352.45）mg/kg、（685.66±199.66）mg/kg和（6.62±3.05）mg/g,三者相关性显著。综合污染指数法和有机指数法评价结果表明,池塘沉积物中氮和有机物质的累积量较低,磷累积量相对较高,均低于其他地区高产池塘。池塘沉积物中Cr、Cd、Cu和Hg样品超标率分别为6.42%、3.21%、4.13%和1.38%,Zn、Pb和As无超标现象。地质累积指数、潜在生态危害指数法和一致性沉积物质量基准评价结果表明,上海地区池塘沉积物中重金属整体上处于清洁等级、低潜在生态危害状态,预测不会引发生物毒性效应。     

主养草鱼与主养黄颡鱼池塘沉积物—水界面氮磷营养盐通量变化及与环境因子的关系

为了探讨不同主养模式池塘养殖期间沉积物—水界面氮磷营养盐通量变化特征以及与环境因子之间的相互关系,利用沉积物—水界面营养盐扩散通量的原位观测装置,分析了2013年4—10月主养草鱼和主养黄颡鱼池塘沉积物—水界面营养盐交换通量,并探讨了影响营养盐交换通量的因素。结果发现:(1)在养殖初期,各种形态氮磷在养殖池塘沉积物—水界面主要表现为从上覆水向沉积物的沉积,养殖中后期,由于温度升高以及池塘沉积物中营养物质的大量累积,各种形态氮磷表现为以沉积物向上覆水扩散为主,表明池塘沉积物是氮磷营养盐的源与汇;(2)两种不同主养模式池塘氮磷通量的统计结果表明,沉积物—水界面-N、-N和-P通量变化无显著差异,而-N、TN和TP通量有显著差异;(3)上覆水中DO含量的升高显著促进界面间-N和-N释放通量,而-N和-P释放通量与上覆水DO浓度成显著负相关;温度的升高对各种无机形态的氮磷通量有显著的促进作用。     

Physical and chemical characteristics of sediments in catfish, freshwater prawn and carp ponds in Thailand

Sediment samples were collected from 42 catfish (Clarias hybrid) ponds, 40 freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) ponds and 18 carp (Puntius spp.) ponds in Thailand. Regression analysis revealed that pond age (1–30 years) was not a major factor influencing the physical and chemical composition of pond sediments. Sediment depth, F+S horizon thickness and bulk density of S horizon were greater (P<0.05) in carp ponds than in catfish and prawn ponds. This occurred because sediment was removed from catfish and prawn ponds more frequently than from carp ponds. Total carbon, organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations were greater (P<0.05) in carp ponds than prawn and catfish ponds. Few ponds had sediment organic carbon concentrations above 3%, and carbon:nitrogen ratio values did not differ (P>0.05) among ponds for the three species. Total phosphorus and other sediment phosphorus fractions increased in the order prawn ponds, carp ponds and catfish ponds. Sediment sulphur concentrations also increased in the same order. There were no differences in major or minor nutrient concentrations in sediment that would influence aquacultural production. Although there were significant correlations (P<0.05) between various sediment quality variables, no single variable or group of variables would be useful in estimating sediment quality. Pond bottom management practices used by producers in Thailand included drying of pond bottoms between crops, liming, tilling and periodic sediment removal. These practices have maintained relatively good bottom quality. They should be continued in Thailand and adopted in other places.     

Accumulation, organic carbon and dry matter concentration of sediment in commercial channel catfish ponds

Sediment depth and organic carbon (OC) concentration were measured in sediment cores (n=675) collected from 45 commercial channel catfish ponds in northwest Mississippi from April to September in 1998 and 1999. Ponds had been in continuous catfish production from 14 days to 21 years. Sediment depth ranged from 1 to 95 cm and was heterogeneously distributed within ponds: least in the shallow end (26.3 cm) and greatest in deeper areas (33.7 cm). Mean sediment depth increased with pond age, although the rate of sediment accumulation was greatest in the first year (12.5 cm per year). Organic carbon concentration varied slightly within ponds ranging from 0.76 to 3.43% of dry matter (DM). Mean organic carbon concentration in the upper 2 cm of sediment (1.77%) was significantly greater than in the deeper sediment layer (1.55%). Mean dry matter content in the upper 2 cm of sediment averaged 24.2% of total wet weight. Mean dry matter for the lower sediment fraction was 37.8% of total wet weight. Despite large inputs of organic matter from feed and primary production, sediment organic carbon concentrations did not increase with pond age.     

Environmental Assessment of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Farming in Alabama

An environmental assessment was made of Alabama channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus farming which is concentrated in the west‐central region of the state. There are about 10,000 ha of production ponds with 10.7% of the area for fry and fingerlings and 89.3% for food fish. Food fish production was about 40,800 tons in 1997. Watershed ponds filled by rainfall and runoff make up 76% of total pond area. Water levels in many of these ponds are maintained in dry weather with well water. The other ponds are embankment ponds supplied by well water. Harvest is primarily by seine‐through procedures and ponds are not drained frequently. The main points related to Alabama catfish farming and environment issues are as follows: 1) catfish farming in Alabama is conservative of water, and excluding storm overflow, about two pond volumes are intentionally discharged from each pond in 15 yr; 2) overflow from ponds following rains occurs mostly in winter and early spring when pond water quality is good and stream discharge volume is high; 3) total suspended solids concentrations in pond effluents were high, and the main sources of total suspended solids were erosion of embankments, pond bottoms, and discharge ditches; 4) concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in effluents were not high, but annual effluent loads of these two nutrients were greater than for typical row crops in Alabama; 5) ground water use by the industry is about 86,000 m³/d, but seepage from ponds returns water to aquifers; 6) there is little use of medicated feeds; 7) copper sulfate is used to control blue‐green algae and off‐flavor in ponds, but copper is rapidly lost from pond water; 8) although sodium chloride is applied to ponds to control nitrite toxicity, stream or ground water salinization has not resulted from this practice; 9) fertilizers are applied two or three times annually to fry and fingerling ponds and occasionally to grow‐out ponds; 10) hydrated lime is applied occasionally at 50 to 100 kg/ha but this does not cause high pH in pond waters or effluents; 11) accumulated sediment removed from pond bottoms is used to repair embankments and not discarded outside ponds; 12) sampling above and below catfish pond outfalls on eight streams revealed few differences in stream water quality; 13) electricity used for pumping water and mechanical aeration is only 0.90 kW h/kg of production; 14) each metric ton of fish meal used in feeds yields about 10 tons of dressed catfish. Reduction in effluent volume through water reuse and effluent treatment in settling basins or wetlands does not appear feasible on most farms. However, some management practices are recommended for reducing the volume and improving the quality of channel catfish pond effluents.     

Food inputs, water quality and nutrient accumulation in integrated pond systems: A multivariate approach

A participatory on-farm study was conducted to explore the effects of food input patterns on water quality and sediment nutrient accumulation in ponds, and to identify different types of integrated pond systems. Ten integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) farms, in which ponds associate with fruit orchards, livestock and rice fields were monitored in the Mekong delta of Vietnam. Pond mass balances for nitrogen (N), organic carbon (OC) and phosphorus (P) were determined, and pond water quality and sediment nutrient accumulation were monitored. Data were analyzed using multivariate canonical correlation analysis, cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. The main variability in pond water quality and sediment nutrients was related with food inputs and water exchange rates. Water exchange rate, agro-ecological factors, pond physical properties and human waste input were major variables used to classify ponds. Classification was into: (1) low water exchange rate ponds in the fruit-dominated area, (2) low water exchange rate ponds in the rice-dominated area receiving homemade feed, and (3) high water exchange rate ponds in the rice-dominated areas receiving wastes. Pond water exchange rate was human-controlled and a function of food input patterns, which were determined by livelihood strategies of IAA-households. In the rice-dominated area with deep ponds, higher livestock and human wastes were found together with high water exchange rates. In these ponds, large organic matter loads reduced dissolved oxygen and increased total phosphorus concentrations in the water and increased nutrient (N, OC and P) accumulation in the sediments. In the rice-dominated area with wide ponds, higher homemade feed amounts were added to the ponds with low water exchange rate. This resulted in high phytoplankton biomass and high primary productivity. The contrary occurred in the fruit-dominated area, where fish were grown in shallow and narrow ponds, receiving more plant residue which resulted in lower phytoplankton biomass and lower sediment nutrient accumulation.     

Costs and Risk of Catfish Split‐pond Systems

Split ponds are recently developed pond‐based aquaculture systems that allow intensification of catfish aquaculture. Successful industry‐wide adoption of newly developing technologies like split‐pond systems will depend upon their productivity and cost efficiencies. Costs and production performance of the following three split‐pond design scenarios were monitored in Arkansas and Mississippi: (1) research design developed at the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, Mississippi; (2) waterwheel design tested on commercial catfish ponds; and (3) screw‐pump design tested on commercial catfish ponds. An economic engineering approach using standard enterprise budget analysis was used to develop estimates of breakeven prices (BEPs) ($/kg) for producing foodsize hybrid catfish (♂Ictalurus furcatus × ♀Ictalurus punctatus) for each scenario. Estimates of BEPs of hybrid catfish raised in split ponds ranged from $1.72 to $2.05/kg. The cost of catfish production in split ponds was sensitive to yield, fish prices, and feed prices. Annual net cash flows from both commercial split‐pond systems were high and sufficient to make the investment profitable in the long run. Feed price, feed conversion ratio, and yield contributed the most to downside risk of split ponds.     

不同鱼类和采样时间的养殖池塘环境微生物群落研究

微生物群落是养殖池塘生态系统重要的组成部分。本研究在不同月份采集尼罗罗非鱼和斑点叉尾鮰池塘水体样品,分析水样中的硝酸盐氮、亚硝酸盐氮、氨氮、总氮和总磷等理化指标,利用Biolog-Eco微平板技术分析水体中微生物对各类碳源代谢的平均颜色变化率,利用高通量测序技术分析水体中的菌群结构,以期了解养殖鱼种类和季节对养殖池塘环境及菌群结构的影响。结果表明：冬季淡水养殖池塘水质和菌群结构不同于其他季节,养殖鱼类种类对池塘水体理化指标和水体微生物菌群结构的影响不大。不同采样时间的池塘水体理化指标差异显著,同一采样时间不同养殖鱼类池塘水体理化指标之间无显著差异。其中,1月尼罗罗非鱼养殖池塘水样中的NH4-N含量高于其他月份,显著高于4月和7月的水样(P<0.05)；1月TP含量显著高于1月、4月和7月(P<0.05)。1月斑点叉尾鮰养殖池塘水样中的TP和NO₃-N含量显著高于其他三个月份(P<0.05)。Biolog-ECO微平板技术检测到尼罗罗非鱼和斑点叉尾鮰养殖池塘水样中的微生物群落对碳水化合物和氨基酸的利用能力较强,对酚胺类化合物的利用能力较弱,4月斑点叉尾鮰养殖池塘水体微生物对碳源的利用率高于尼罗罗非鱼养殖池塘。高通量测序结果发现厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)是尼罗罗非鱼和斑点叉尾鮰养殖池塘水体中的绝对优势菌门。hgcI clade、CL500-29 marine group和C39等参与氮磷循环的菌属为淡水池塘养殖水体中的主要菌属。本研究结果为了解淡水养殖环境中微生物群落结构与变化规律、更有针对性的构建淡水养殖池塘尾水生态化处理方法提供科学依据。     

Chlorination of Channel Catfish Ponds

Abstract— Laboratory studies with pond water samples revealed that 5 mg/L active chlorine was needed to provide enough chlorine residual to reduce biological activity. Treatment of channel catfish ponds with repeated, 0.1-mg/L doses of active chlorine from calcium hypochlorite at 6- to 8-d intervals, as sometimes done by catfish farmers, had little influence on water quality. Dissolved oxygen, total ammonia-nitrogen, and chlorophyll a concentrations and pH were similar between treated and control ponds. Concentrations of chemical oxygen demand and particulate organic matter were seldom different between treated and control ponds. Channel catfish survival and net production were not improved by chlorine treatment. Thus, chlorination of production ponds during the grow-out period is not a useful technique. Treatment of sediment samples from ponds with up to 1,200-mg active chlorinelkg soil did not reduce bacterial abundance, so chlorination of bottoms of empty ponds may not he an effective disinfection procedure. Chlorination of pond waters with 30-mg/L active chlorine caused complete kill of bacteria 24 h after treatment, although heterotrophic bacteria quickly re-populated the water. Thus, chlorination can be an effective way to disinfect ponds before stocking.     

Bacterial composition,abundance and diversity in fish polyculture and mussel–fish integrated cultured ponds in China

Bacterial community and abiotic environmental parameters in twelve freshwater aquaculture ponds were analysed. According to the major component of stocked animals, the ponds were grouped into four types: black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco and pearl mussel Hyriopsis cumingii ponds. Each type of pond was stocked with three species of Chinese carps (silver carp, bighead carp and gibel carp) to form a unique mode of fish polyculture or mussel–fish integrated culture. The bacterial composition was identified using 16S rDNA sequencing. Totally, 3701 and 11 150 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from the water and sediment samples respectively. The number of OTUs, abundance‐based coverage estimator, Chao1 index and Shannon diversity index were lower in the water column than in the sediment, suggesting that diversity and stability of bacterial community were higher in the sediment. In the water column, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes dominated at the phylum level, and 26 dominant genera were identified. In the sediment, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria and Nitrospirae dominated at the phylum level, and 25 dominant genera were identified. Bacterial compositions between the ponds with different aquaculture modes were similar at the phylum levels, but varied at the genus levels. The bacterial composition in the ponds was correlated with hardness, ammonia and total nitrogen in the water column. This study indicates that the type of aquaculture mode is a factor regulating the microbial community, which provides an insight towards microbial management through probiotic manipulation in pond culture.     

Modeling industry-wide sediment oxygen demand and estimation of the contribution of sediment to total respiration in commercial channel catfish ponds

Data collected from 45 commercial channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, ponds were used to develop empirical models predicting sediment oxygen demand (SOD). Seven acceptable models were combined with a Monte-Carlo sampling distribution to predict industry-wide sediment oxygen demand (SOD_i). The SOD_i values obtained from the best equation were used in simulations to assess the effect of diurnally varying water column dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations on SOD and the effect of pond water depth on the contribution of SOD to overall pond respiration. Estimated SOD_i ranged from 62 to 962 mg m⁻² h⁻¹, with a mean of 478 mg m⁻² h⁻¹. There was a 95% probability of mean SOD_i being ≥700 mg m⁻² h⁻¹. The effects of diurnal variation in DO concentration in the water column on expression of SOD was modeled by combining maximum SOD_i, an empirical relationship between DO and SOD, and simulated pond DO concentrations. At DO concentrations >15 mg l⁻¹, diel SOD in catfish ponds exceeded 20 g O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹. But when average diel DO was <4 mg l⁻¹ and the range of DO concentration was 6–8 mg l⁻¹, SOD decreased to 13 g O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ because DO availability limited the full expression of potential SOD. Respiration totals for sediment (average SOD_i), plankton, and fish respiration were calculated for pond water depths ranging from 0.25 to 4 m. Although whole-pond respiration increases as pond depth increases, the proportion of total respiration represented by sediment decreased from 48 to 10% by increasing water depth over this range. The results of these studies show that SOD is a major component of total pond respiration and that certain management practices can affect the impact of SOD on pond oxygen budgets. Mixing ponds during daylight hours, either mechanically or by orienting ponds for maximum wind fetch, will increase oxygen supply to sediments, thereby allowing maximum expression of SOD and maximum mineralization of sediment organic matter. Given a mixed condition caused by wind or other artificial means, the construction of deeper ponds increases the total mass of DO available for all respiration, causing nighttime DO concentrations to decline at a slower rate, reducing the need for supplemental aeration. Because a pond’s water volume decreases over time from sediment accumulation, annual aeration costs will increase with pond age. Constructing ponds with greater initial depth will therefore reduce long-term cost of aeration, allow more flexible management of pond water budget, and reduce the long-term expense associated with pond reconstruction.     

Factors Affecting Sediment Oxygen Demand in Commercial Channel Catfish Ponds

Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) measured in 45 commercial channel catfish ponds in northwest Mississippi using in situ respirometry ( N = 167) ranged from 63 to 1,038 mg/m² per h. Mean SOD in this study (359 mg/m² per h) was greater than that reported previously for catfish ponds but was similar to SOD in semi-intensive marine shrimp ponds. Nine variables were selected and measured to assess their relative importance in accounting for variation in SOD. Six variables were included in multiple regression models that explained slightly more than half of the variation in SOD. These variables were: dissolved oxygen concentration at the beginning of respirometry incubation:, particulate organic matter concentration in water above the sediment surface: organic carbon concentration at the immediate sediment-water interface (flocculent or F-layer) combined with the upper 2 cm of sediment (S-layer); organic carbon concentration in the mature (M) underlying sediment layer: water temperature: and total depth of accumulated sediment. Sediment oxygen demand was most sensitive to changes in dissolved oxygen concentration in the overlying water, particulate organic matter concentration in the water, and the concentration of organic carbon in the combined flocculent and upper sediment (F+S) layer. Models for SOD in this research predict that the mass of sediment below the upper 2-cm surface layer on average contributes only ∼20% of total SOD. Stratification and normal daily fluctuation of dissolved oxygen concentration in eutrophic culture ponds likely limit expression of sediment oxygen demand. Maintaining aerobic conditions at the sediment-water interface will minimize accumulation of organic matter in pond sediment.