Site selection, pond design, and construction are three other important factors in aquaculture production. The soil, water quality, and quantity should also be suitable for fish culture. The quality of water should be enough to meet the farm water requirements while the water should be free from pollutants.
Site selection
The farm should be connected to a road network and if possible, there should be an electrical connection on the farm.
When selecting a site for fish growing, it’s better you avoid sandy grounds. The loam clay soil is favorable for pond construction.
Water inlets and outlets should also be put into consideration but these should be screened to prevent the entry of predators and exit of fish from the pond respectively.
Activities before stocking
In the case of newly constructed ponds, you can start by filling the pond with water and fertilizing the pond right away.
For the ponds that have been used before, the first point is pond draining and drying. Drain away the water from the previous season and dry the pond bottom until it cracks.
During pond preparation, it’s important that you harvest any remaining fish so that you begin the new season with a proper clean pond.
Ensure that you do any maintenance of the ditch and dikes if necessary during preparation.
Initial fertilization is carried out in two phases. First, apply an organic fertilizer to the pond bottom before filling the pond with water. Open up the water into the pond to raise up to a water level of 20 to 30cm and wait for 3 to 4 days.
In the second phase of fertilization, apply chemical fertilizers i.e. urea and superphosphate. This helps the pond to become fertile. Apply about 20 kg urea and 50 kg super phosphate per hectare.
After fertilization, add water to reach the required level and wait for a week then the pond will be ready to receive the fish.
