Spatial variation of water quality parameters of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture ponds at Narsapurapupeta, Kajuluru and Kaikavolu villages of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Water quality parameters viz., Temperature, pH, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, Alkalinity, Hardness, Nitrite- Nitrogen, Nitrate-Nitrogen and Ammonia were studied in 14 shrimp culture ponds (6 at Narsapurapupeta, 4 at Kajuluru and 4 at Kaikavolu villages) of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Temperature ranged from 26.5 oC to 28 oC in the ponds. pH varied from 6.95 to 8.38.Dissolved oxygen varied from 4.4 to 8.6 mg/l. Minimum values of dissolved oxygen were recorded at Kajuluru village pond and maximum in Narasapurapupeta ponds. Low salinity (2 ppt) was observed in Kajuluru ponds and high (10 ppt) in Kaikavolu ponds. The alkalinity was minimum (120 mg/l) in the ponds of Narasapurapupeta and maximum (500 mg/l) in Kajuluru ponds. The hardness ranged from 600 mg/l to 3440 mg/l. The values of ammonia were 0.02 - 1.07 mg/l. The nitrite-nitrogen was minimum (0.01) in Kajuluru ponds and maximum (0.80) in Narasapurapupeta ponds. The nitrate- nitrogen was minimum (3.36) in Kaikavolu ponds and maximum (6.40) in Kajuluru ponds. The cumulative effect of these water parameters will reflect on the shrimp production. The parameters observed were in the optimal range for shrimp culture except salinity in which case it was found that the shrimp was acclimatized to grow at low salinities.