SOIL AND WATER HEALTH CARDS IN BRACKISH WATER AQUACULTURE – IMPLICATIONS FOR LOCATION SPECIFIC BMPS FOR PRODUCTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE POND ENVIRONMENT

Better management practices (BMPs) targets at improved shrimp health, profitable farming, environment protection, improved food safety and socio-economic sustainability. BMPs should be simple, practical, cost-effective and applicable by all especially small-scale farmers. Systematic pond soil and water management helps in reducing the chances of disease occurrence. This can be achieved by monitoring of soil and water parameters starting from the site selection, culture period and discharge of wastewater. Location specific BMPs vary based on the geographical/seasonal variations, species requirements and culture practices being followed. Geographical and seasonal variation has influence on water salinity and temperature.

First time in the country, ICAR-CIBA distributed soil and water health cards (SWHC) in fisheries sector to brackishwater aquaculture farmers. The information provided in the cards is useful to farmers in understanding the nutrients status of the soil and water quality which will help in managing the pond soil and water parameters in optimum levels. Since 2015, CIBA has issued about 1200 SWHCs in different geographical locations including AP, TN and Gujarat. The database from SWHCs was used to understand the variation trends in soil and water parameters and to formulate the location specific BMPs.

Diversified culture Practices such variation in water source, age of pond, use of reservoir, stocking density, water exchange, pond bottom sludge removing and drying has influence on pond dynamics affecting water and soil quality and physiology of animal. The results indicated variation in soil fertility due to ageing of shrimp culture ponds. New ponds had lower organic matter than older ponds. Irrespective of the pond age, effective pond management practices followed over the years maintained soil quality of the pond.  There is a need to fine tune the BMPs with scientific basis so as to evolve site and system specific BMPs suitable for adoption by small farmers.