Water Quality Analysis and Management for Aquaculture

Course Code: AQU 704

Course Title: Water Quality Analysis and Management for Aquaculture

Credit Hours: 4 (2+2)

Rationale:

Various types of aquaculture practices are evolved and practiced based on the principles and management of water quality. Management of water quality in aquaculture in different production level needs to be understood. Impact of water quality on aquaculture and of aquaculture in environment needs to be assessed for the sustainability of aquaculture development. This course provides the principles and management aspects of the water quality parameters for aquaculture.

Learning outcomes:

  1. Produce a plan which advises farmers on water quality management for their farms.
  2. Design a water quality sampling logistics strategy (sampling, analysis and interpretation)
  3. Be able to assess the impacts of farm effluents on the environment.
  4. To be able to conduct simple analysis for substances which impact on water quality

Contents:

Theory

A. Principles

1. Introduction

1.1.   Importance and requirement of water quality in aquaculture

1.2.   Aquatic ecosystems

1.3.   Morphometry of water bodies and trophic status

2. Physical parameters

2.1.   Temperature, Thermal stratification and de-stratification

2.2.   Water color, Transparency, Turbidity, Solids

3. Chemical parameters

3.1.   Specific conductance, Salinity

3.2.   Dissolved Oxygen, pH

3.3.   Alkalinity, Hardness, Acidity

3.4.   Nutrients

4. Biological parameters

4.1.   Planktons, Periphytons, Primary productivity, Chlorophyll-a

4.2.   Benthos, Detritus

B. Pond Dynamics and Management

5. Pond bottom management

5.1.   Pond sediment characteristics

5.2.   Pond liming

6. Nutrient dynamics

6.1.   Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus dynamics

6.2.   Aquatic plants and primary productivity

6.3.   Pond fertilization

7. Aquaculture intensification and water quality managements

8. Farm effluents and Environmental impacts

9. Management Practices

9.1.   Good Aquaculture Practice (GAP),

9.2.   Better Management Practice (BMP),

9.3.   Aquaculture Code of conduct (CoC)

10.  Water treatment and Reuse

11.  Case study/Term paper:

  • Nutrient budget in catfish pond
  • Environmental impact of cage culture in lake Phewa
  • Case study on Intensive aquaculture systems of other countries

C. Practical

Analytical techniques (Field and Laboratory analysis)

Students will work in three different environments (flowing water, pond water, and tank water) in critical time as required.

  • Lab chemicals and glassware set up and Review of analytical methods and sampling techniques
  • Temperature, pH and Transparency, Turbidity, Conductivity and Salinity measurements
  • Solids measurements (TS, TSS, TDS, POM, DOM) Alkalinity, Acidity and Hardness measurement
  • Dissolved oxygen  and Primary productivity measurements
  • Nutrients analysis (Total nitrogen and Total ammonium nitrogen NO2-N and NO3-N, Total – P and soluble reactive – P analysis
  • Plankton and Chlorophyll – a analysis
  • Pond mud analysis and Lime requirement
  • Pond fertilization
  • How to use test kits in field
  • Data processing, interpretation, Report preparation and Submission

Reference

  • Boyd, C.E. 1990. Water Quality in Ponds for Aquaculture. Auburn University, Alabama, USA
  • Boyd, C.E. and C.S. Tucker. 1992. Water Quality and Pond Soil Analysis for Aquaculture. Auburn University, Alabama, USA
  • Boyd, C.E. 1995. Bottom soils, Sediments and Pond Aquaculture. Auburn University, Alabama, USA
  • Egna, H.S. and C.E. Boyd (Editors). 1997. Dynamics of Pond Aquaculture. CRC Press, New York.
  • APHA. 1985. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 16th Edition. Washington DC.
  • FAO. 1970. Physical and Chemical Methods of Soil and Water Analysis. Soils Bulletin No. 10, FAO Rome.
  • Stirling, H.P (eds). 1985. Chemical and Biological methods of water analysis for aquaculturists. Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Scotland.

Course Schedule

Day

Lecture Topics

Lab exercises

Assign-ment
Day-1 & 2 Introduction:

  • Importance and requirement of water quality in aquaculture
  • Aquatic ecosystems
  • Morphometry of water bodies and trophic status
 Lab chemicals and glassware set up and Review of analytical methods and sampling techniques
Day-3 & 4
  • Physical parameters:

Temperature, Thermal stratification and de-stratification

Water color, Transparency, Turbidity, Solids,

 Temperature, pH and Transparency, Turbidity, Conductivity and Salinity measurements
Day-5 & 6
  • Chemical parameters:

Specific conductance, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, pH,

 Solids measurements (TS, TSS, TDS, POM, DOM)
Day- 7 & 8
  • Alkalinity, Hardness, Acidity, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Orthophosphate
Alkalinity, Acidity and Hardness measurement
Day-9 & 10
  • Biological parameters:

Planktons, Periphytons, Primary productivity, Chlorophyll, Benthos, Detritus

 Dissolved oxygen  and Primary productivity measurements
Day-11&12
  • Pond bottom management:

Pond sediment characteristics

Soil texture, Cation exchange, Redox potential

 Total nitrogen and Total ammonium nitrogen measurements
Day-13&14
  • Pond liming

Liming materials, Lime requirement and Liming rates

 NO2-N and NO3-N analysis
Day-15&16
  • Nutrient dynamics:

Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus dynamics

 Total – P and soluble reactive – P analysis
Day-17&18
  • Aquatic plants and primary productivity
  • Pond fertilization
 Plankton analysis
Day-19&20
  • Aquaculture intensification and water quality managements
  • Farm effluents and environmental impacts
 Chlorophyll – a analysis
Day-21&22
  • Water treatment and Reuse
 Lime requirement and

Pond fertilization
Day-23-30
  • Case study-1
  • Case study-2
  • Case study-3
 Data processing, interpretation, Report preparation and Submission

Aquaculture Video