Factors affecting sediment oxygen demand in commercial channel catfish ponds

• Published in: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 322 - 334
• Main Authors: Steeby, J.A, Hargreaves, J.A, Tucker, C.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2004
• Subjects: catfish; chemical oxygen demand; dissolved oxygen; dry matter content; equipment design; fish ponds; Freshwater; Ictalurus punctatus; marine sediments; measuring devices; organic matter; particulates; regression analysis; sediment-water interface; soil depth; soil organic matter; statistical models; total suspended solids; water temperature; Mississippi; USA, Mississippi
• ISSN: 0893-8849; 1749-7345
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-7345.2004.tb00096.x

Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) measured in 45 commercial channel catfish ponds in northwest Mississippi using in situ respirometry (N = 167) ranged from 63 to 1,038 mg/m2 per h. Mean SOD in this study (359 mg/m2 per h) was greater than that reported previously for catfish ponds but was similar to SOD in semi‐intensive marine shrimp ponds. Nine variables were selected and measured to assess their relative importance in accounting for variation in SOD. Six variables were included in multiple regression models that explained slightly more than half of the variation in SOD. These variables were: dissolved oxygen concentration at the beginning of respirometry incubation:, particulate organic matter concentration in water above the sediment surface: organic carbon concentration at the immediate sediment‐water interface (flocculent or F‐layer) combined with the upper 2 cm of sediment (S‐layer); organic carbon concentration in the mature (M) underlying sediment layer: water temperature: and total depth of accumulated sediment. Sediment oxygen demand was most sensitive to changes in dissolved oxygen concentration in the overlying water, particulate organic matter concentration in the water, and the concentration of organic carbon in the combined flocculent and upper sediment (F+S) layer. Models for SOD in this research predict that the mass of sediment below the upper 2‐cm surface layer on average contributes only ∼20% of total SOD. Stratification and normal daily fluctuation of dissolved oxygen concentration in eutrophic culture ponds likely limit expression of sediment oxygen demand. Maintaining aerobic conditions at the sediment‐water interface will minimize accumulation of organic matter in pond sediment.