Assessment of water characteristics in aquaculture ponds in Tigoni, Limuru sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

Aquaculture production has increased from 29.5m tones in 2010 to 37.5 million tones in 2014 in the world and 1.3 million tones in 2010 to 3.8 million tones in Africa. The study area was Tigoni in Kiambu County. Stratified random sampling design was used to select 8 sample ponds which water samples were collected twice a month for four months. Parameters measured were temperatures, pH, conductivity, dissolved Oxygen (DO), secchi depth, Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrates and phosphate. Mean temperature were in the lower range with pond D and H being below range. DO t-test, pond G had a significant difference (t=7.500, α=0.05, p=0.00) and there was no significant difference in BOD in all ponds. In conclusion, water characteristic in the aquaculture ponds did not vary significantly from one pond to another, the characteristics in aquaculture ponds met characteristics for warm water culture but temperatures were low and in some ponds they were below range.