Effects of annual draining on water quality and production of channel catfish in ponds

Abstract

Concentrations of chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, nitrite-nitrogen, total ammonia-nitrogen, and dissolved oxygen were measured frequently in channel catfish ponds, of which four were drained annually and four were not drained for 3 years. Average concentrations of total phosphorus increased from year to year in undrained ponds, and they were higher ( P < 0.01) in undrained ponds than in drained ponds during the second and third years of the study. Phytoplankton abundance, as evident from chlorophyll a concentrations, did not differ ( P > 0.05) within or between treatments during the 3 years. Water quality was similar between treatments. One difference in production of channel catfish occurred during the third year and was related to a parasite infection of fish rather than water quality. The findings suggest that the recent trend in not draining channel catfish ponds at harvest will not lead to rapid deterioration of water quality in ponds.