Comparing the Use of Hydrated Lime and Agricultural Lime in Earthen Florida Largemouth Bass Rearing Ponds

Wyatt, T., L. Hall, and N. Thompson, Jasper State Fish Hatchery, Inland Fisheries Division, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Rt. 2 Box 535, Jasper, Texas 75951

Agricultural lime and hydrated lime were compared as liming materials in earthen ponds to determine their effects on water quality, zooplankton density, and production of Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) fingerlings. Twelve 0.28-0.36-ha ponds were randomly divided into three groups of four ponds each and assigned to three treatments. Treatment 1 used agricultural lime broadcast at 30.5 kg/ha; treatment 2 used hydrated lime broadcast at 30.5 kg/ha; and (control) treatment 3 used agricultural lime applied at 2,245 kg/ha by front-end loader to the corners of each pond. All ponds were fertilized according to an established regime with both inorganic and organic fertilizers. The water quality variables, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, alkalinity, hardness, and chlorophyll-a as well as zooplankton density, were measured throughout the study and compared among treatments. The fish production variables, harvest length, harvest biomass, percent survival, and growth as well as the cost of producing fish, were also compared among treatments. Except for zooplankton density, harvest biomass, and cost of producing fish, measured variables were statistically similar among treatments. Zooplankton density was significantly lower in treatment 2 ponds than in treatment 1 or 3 ponds, and similar between the latter two treatments. Harvest biomass was significantly higher for treatment 3 than for treatment 1 or 2, and similar between treatments 1 and 2. The cost of producing fish based on the purchase price of lime was significantly higher for treatments 3 ($0.75/kg) and 2 ($0.52/kg) than for treatment 1 ($0.09/kg). Labor cost was significantly higher for agricultural lime when applied by front-end loader ($10.00/pond) than for hydrated lime or agricultural lime applied by broadcasting onto the pond surface ($3.33/pond). Because of high mortalities in 2 of 4 ponds of each of treatments 1 and 2, the effects of hydrated lime compared to agricultural lime on Florida largemouth bass fingerling production was unclear.

Copyright © 1999
Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Last modified: 01/07/09 06:45:17 AM