BLOOM CULTURE: Making the Food Chain

Aquaculture: this is the farming of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic plants, algae, and other aquatic micro and non microorganisms. It involves the cultivation of freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions. Therefore, bloom culture is a typical example of another principal form of aquaculture. It is a necessity in fish farming practices.

Fish farming: Pisciculture involves the raising of fish commercially in tanks or enclosures such as fish ponds, cages, pens, harpers, and raceways usually for food. It is a principal form of aquaculture. Worldwide the most important fish species produced in fish farming are carp, tilapia, salmon and catfish. Hence the need to understand bloom culture, for the Purposes of making a food chain for pond and tank cultured fish.

A bloom refers to the change in colour of the pond water, produced by the build-up of large populations of plankton. Blooms that are green in colour occur where phytoplankton is more predominant while brown-green blooms occur where zooplankton is predominating.

Bloom Advantages

·        Planktons are the major source of food for young fish and certain species of adult fish.

·        Planktons are the basis of the pond's food chain.

·        Phytoplankton consumes the CO2produced by the fish in the pond and produces most of the dissolved oxygen required for fish respiration.

·        A good bloom will hide the fish from predators and thieves.

Promoting plankton growth and developing a bloom requires adding nutrients to the pond. In a rural setting, these nutrients will be added in the form of organic fertilizers such as manure or inorganic fertilizers.

The type of fertilizer used will depend on availability and cost effectiveness, and the different types can be used in combination. In all cases, ensure that the pond has a bloom before stocking fingerlings. The fingerlings survive on plankton, and without the bloom they will be vulnerable to predators.

Surface algae and scums are also confused for blooms and are usually produced by too much fertilization and the over-production of blue-green algae. Surface algae and scums are bad for fish production because they limit the amount of light entering the pond, and therefore limit the amount of plankton growth. Surface scum and algae should be removed by removing any leaves or manure, flushing the system with water, and/or by using a basket to scoop off the scum.

Below is the table showing the Organic and Inorganic fertilizers and the amounts required per given area of pond to culture. Remember never to suffocate your fish within organic fertilizers, always allow the fertilizer to undergo a complete reaction (breakdown) before you introduce your fish into the pond.

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ORGANIC (Natural Fertilizers) Add to pond before and after stocking fish

Nutrients Used to Create a Bloom

Amount

Manure (Cattle & Goat)

10-15 kg/ 100m2 each week

Manure (Pig)

8-12 kg/ 100m2 each week

Manure(Chicken)

6-8 kg/ 100m2 each wee

Compost

Fill compost crib each week

Ash

1 bucket/ 100m2 each week

INORGANIC (Chemical Fertilizers) Add to pond before stocking fish

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D-Compund

28 Tablespoons/100m2 each week

Urea

14-43 Tablespoons/100m2 each week

Supersphosphate (SP)

25 Tablespoons/100m2 each week

Triple Superphosphate

13-25 Tablespoons/100m2 each week

Diammonium Phosphate

13 Tablespoons/100m2 each week

Ammonium Nitrate

17 Tablespoons/100m2 each week

You will need to monitor your pond to determine if the standard amount of fertilizer is working for your pond. Certain soils and environments, for example Dumbo areas, have different pH levels, are require more ash and more fertilizer to keep a bloom. When measuring your bloom, if you put your arm into the water up to your elbow, you should not be able to see your fingers. Remember, the colour of the bloom varies based on the types of nutrients you add to your pond

By Choompo Alex

0977119765

0967119765

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