Brackish water aquaculture is one of the largest coastal industries in Indonesia. This farming system involves the construction of ponds m coastal sediments. Many ponds in Indonesia have been abandoned due to past development of ponds in acid 8ulfate soils (ASS); these soils produce sulfuric acid through the oxidation of pyrite du ring and after the sediments have been excavated. The soils also contain elevated concentrations of metal such as iron and aluminium which are harmful to farmed fish and shrimp. Acidification of pond soil causes recurrent fish and shrimp mortalities, poor growth rate in fish and shrimp, soft shell syndrome in shrimp and low plankton densities, Pond maintenance costs in ASS are also significantly higher than non-ASS ponds. There are over 6.7 million ha of ASS In Indonesia of which 35% has been developed for brackish water aquaculture. This study developed and trialled methods of soil remediation to restore abandoned ASS-affected ponds. The main objective was to develop methods at remediation that were scientifically sound but also practical and inexpensive for farmers. The research involved characterising, in detail, the chemical and physical properties of ponds soil followed by laboratory-based experiments to improve soil properties. The results of laboratory trials were the basis for large-scale field experiments to test soil remediation strategies. The study showed that pond bottoms could be improved by forced oxidation, flooding and water exchange followed by Iiming and fertilising. Up to 500% increases in productivity were achieved by this method and soils conditions Improved significantly. A further twofold productivity increase was achieved by an integrated liming method in which lime is added to rebuilt or new dykes in layers. A juvenile shrimp production system was developed for ponds that were too severely degraded or costly to remediate. The research developed methods of preventing metal toxicity in Juvenile shrimp. The study showed that aquaculture ponds built in ASS could be remediated and returned to viable production systems. Importantly, the study has developed a more detailed understanding of chemical properties In ASS-affected ponds.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/258338 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Mustafa, Akhmad, Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, UNSW |
| Publisher | Awarded by:University of New South Wales. Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Copyright Mustafa Akhmad., http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/copyright |
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