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Notes: Several soil nutrients, pH, organic carbon, and total soluble salts from the upper 10 cm of soil samples from 72 shrimp ponds in Texas were analyzed. Large increases in sediment concentrations of C, N, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, nitrate, and water-soluble salts was observed after one production cycle, followed by an asymptotic increase in older ponds. An approximately linear increase in soil concentration of S and P with pond age was observed. The pH showed a marked decrease in ponds that had been used for one production cycle, but stabilized in older ponds. No correlation between Ca and growing cycle was observed. Calculated recovery rates for elements supplied in feed were less than 10% in several cases and 15% for P. No measurable negative effect on shrimp production by the increase of elemental concentrations was measured.

Notes: Abstract.— In a microcosm study, sodium sulfate was mixed with a controlled composition soil to yield sulfur concentrations of 100 to 3,000 mg/kg and the mixture was inundated to a depth of 35 cm with 18-ppt salinity water. One juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei with initial weight averaging 0.3 g was placed in each soil-water microcosm and fed for 96 d. Dissolved oxygen concentration was maintained at approximately 70% air saturation. Calculated interstitial hydrogen sulfide concentration 0.5 cm below the soil-water interface increased with time, reaching maximum values ranging from 57 to 113 mg/L. Interstitial sulfide concentrations 0.5 cm below the soil-water interface increased as a function of soil S. Average weight gain of shrimp ranged from 7.4 to 8.7 g across treatment groups. Differences in shrimp weight gain and survival among treatments were not significant. A higher dissolved oxygen demand due to sulfide oxidation implies greater risk of shrimp mortality if the soil-water boundary is disturbed. Further, this study suggests that shrimp growth is not adversely affected by high soil sulfide concentration provided the sediment surface remains oxidized and that dissolved oxygen concentration in the overlying water is maintained at 70% saturation.

Notes: Two commercial shrimp farms in south Texas were evaluated for influent and effluent water quality from June to October 1994. The intensive farm, Taiwan Shrimp Village Association (TSV) had an average annual yield of 4630 kg ha−1 while the semi-intensive farm, Harlingen Shrimp Farm (HSF), had a yield of 1777 kg ha−1. The study had three objectives: (1) to compare influent and effluent water from the intensive and semi-intensive shrimp farms, (2) to show which effluent water-quality indicators exceeded allowable limits, (3) to indicate inherent problems in farms operated with water exchange and summarize how findings from this study led to changes in farms' management that limited potential negative impact on receiving streams. Water samples were collected and analysed twice a week for the TSV farm and once a week for the HSF farm. Samples were analysed for dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, pH, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), total phosphorus (TP), total reactive phosphorus (TRP), five-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (cBOD5), total suspended solids (TSS) and settleable solids (SettSols). Most of the effluent constituents showed fluctuations throughout the sampling period often related to harvest activity. Effluent pH at TSV was lower than influent values but within the regulatory requirements set by Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ), formerly known as Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC). HSF effluent pH values were higher than its influent, but still within TCEQ limits. Effluent DO mean levels were generally below the regulatory daily mean requirement, with values at TSV often below those for influent. Effluent nutrient concentrations and net loads were generally higher at the intensive shrimp farm, with NH3-N mean concentrations above the daily mean set by the TCEQ on several occasions. Effluent TSS concentrations were higher than influent for both farms, with daily mean values above the TCEQ limit. The two farms presented similar TSS concentrations despite their different stocking densities. However, TSS total net load and net load per hectare were higher at the intensive farm. The semi-intensive farm presented higher cBOD5 concentrations and net loads despite its lower stocking density, with daily mean values above the TCEQ limit. The cBOD5 net load at TSV presented negative values indicating higher load at the influent than at the effluent. Analyses showed no evidence of self-pollution between influent and effluent at the two farms. The high feed conversion ratio (FCR) values (2.3 and 2.7 for the intensive and the semi-intensive farm respectively) suggest that better feed management is needed to reduce nutrient and solid net loads release from the two farms. The data obtained from this study resulted in several modifications in design and management of the two farms that reduced the potential negative impact on receiving streams. A brief summary of the improvement in selected effluent water-quality indicators at the intensive shrimp farm is provided.

Notes: Abstract The geographic distribution of the Atlantic white shrimp Penaeus setiferus is in coastal waters from New York to Florida and around the Gulf of Mexico. Beside its value to commercial fisheries, this shrimp is sold as bait for recreational fishing. Previous data suggest that demand for live bait shrimp cannot be satisfied by commercial fleets. A 120-d trial was designed to study production of bait size P. setiferus at high densities in eight small outdoor ponds in south Texas. A 24–1 fractional factorial design was applied to study the effects of postlarval (PL) density (350 and 700 shrimp/m2), feed type (A and B), and water circulation methods (with and without airlift pumps or center pond dividers) on shrimp growth, survival and yield. No significant differences in survivals or yields were found between treatments (P = 0.2). Feed type (P = 0.011), airlift pumps (P = 0.021), and center dividers (P= 0.026), had significant impacts on shrimp growth rates. Density effect on growth was not statistically significant (P= 0.055). This study demonstrated that 6-d-old postlarvae can be stocked at 700 per square meter and reached a bait size (6.2 g) in 94 d with a 73.6% survival and a yield equivalent to 31,300 kg/ha when offered a commercial shrimp feed. A preliminary economic analysis based on this data suggests that operating a bait shrimp farm in Texas with two crops/yr will show profitability within 7 to 12 yr with an internal rate of return of 6.5 and 17.6%, respectively.

Notes: Several nutrients, pH, organic matter, and total soluble salts of surface soil from 81 ponds on two Texas shrimp farms were measured. The relationship between shrimp yield and soil characteristics was analyzed statistically. Shrimp yield was negatively correlated with soil concentrations of S, P, NO3-, B, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cu, and total water-soluble salts. Shrimp yield was directly correlated with soil concentrations of Fe, Mn, and organic matter. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that Ca and S concentrations explained 54% of the variation in shrimp yield.

Notes: Abstract— This study evaluated changes in chemistry of shrimp pond soils over one production cycle. Several soil nutrients, pH, organic matter, and total soluble salts were analyzed in the upper 10 cm of pond-bottom soil on two Texas shrimp farms in two consecutive years. Soil concentrations of S, P, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, and Zn increased from one year to the next, S increased by 400 ppm. Organic matter did not accumulate. The pH decreased in all pond soils, owing perhaps to the oxidation of organic matter and/or inorganic compounds. There was no statistical difference in shrimp yield between the two consecutive years. These results indicated that the accumulation of S and soluble salts derived from seawater and feed should be monitored and evaluated to prevent excessive chemical element loading of pond soil and discharge water.