LIMING
Liming is an important part of
nursery pond maintenance; having a fovourable effect on the health of the fry
and increasing the natural productivity of the ponds. Some of the beneficial
effects of liming can be summarized as follows:
Ø Disinfection
of the pond bottom (only quick lime).
Ø Increase
the pH of water and pond bottom to an optimum level (pH 7-9) for plankton and
fish production.
Ø Increase
the alkalinity of water; adequate alkalinity is required to ensure pH stability
and neutralize harmful the effects of magnesium, sodium and potassium salts.
Ø Increase
pond productivity through increase biological activity and availability of
minerals in the pond bottom
The most commonly used liming
compounds are quicklime (Ca0), caustic lime also called slaked lime or hydrated
lime (Ca(OH2), and agricultural lime. The required amount of lime
depends upon acidity of water and soil and the alkalinity of the soil, and
consequently varies from region to region and from pond to pond. In general
heavy loam or clay soils require more liming than sandy soils and newly
excavated ponds require more liming than used or old ponds.
The quantity of liming required also
depends also upon the type of lime used, since the neutralizing capacities of
these compounds are different. The estimated quantity required depending on pH
is:
Quick lime: 7 – 10kg/100m2
Caustic lime: 7 – 13kg/100m2
Agriculture lime 20 – 30kg/100m2
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