Effects of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and tilapia nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus var. Spring) in monoculture and co-culture systems on water quality variables and production in brackish low-salinity water earthen ponds during rainy and dry seasons

Sergio G. Castillo-Vargasmachuca,Jorge Juárez-Rosales,Alma D. Román-Gutierrez,Elena M. Otazo-Sánchez,Griselda Pulido-Flores,Jesus T. Ponce-Palafox

doi:10.5424/sjar/2019173-14938

Sergio G. Castillo-Vargasmachuca, Jorge Juárez-Rosales + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2019173-14938

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Abstract

Aim of study: To determine the effects of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and tilapia nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus var. Spring) in monoculture and co-culture on water quality variables and production in earthen ponds during dry and rainy seasons.Area of study: A shrimp farm (total area 20 ha) at Chiripa, San Blas Nayarit, Northwest coast of Mexico (21° 37' 34.53 " N; 105° 18' 16.31" W).Material and methods: Two production cycles were performed in a completely randomized design consisting of two treatments and three replications each during rainy season (September-December) and dry season (February-May). Shrimp was the main crop and tilapia the secondary species.Main results: White shrimp (10 org/m2) can be co-cultured with Nile tilapia at a stocking high density (4 org/m2), leading to improved water quality and better utilization of nutrients in dry season than in rainy season. However, the shrimp’ highest weight was recorded in the tilapia-shrimp co-culture ponds during rainy season due to higher water temperature and better quality of live food. The mean individual weight, biomass and survival of the shrimp, in co-culture ponds were greater than those of the shrimp monoculture, in the two seasons studied.Research highlights: There was a trend towards greater concentration of nutrients in the water of the monoculture ponds and, lower dissolved oxygen and higher BOD5 in co-culture ponds in the dry season than in the rainy season.

Highlights

In the last decade, bacterial and viral diseases have affected white shrimp production in several countries ofLatin America
By incorporating tilapia into the co-culture system, the performance of the shrimp is increased by improving water quality (49.5%), reducing nutrients in effluents
The variables of water quality during the two production cycles were within the appropriate intervals for the growth of tilapia and shrimp in monoculture and co-culture (Candido et al, 2005)

Summary

Introduction

Bacterial and viral diseases have affected white shrimp production in several countries ofLatin America. The polyculture or co-culture of shrimp-tilapia (Fitzsimmons & Shahkar, 2017) has been implemented in many countries for production and the efficiency of this culture strategy has been studied in recent years (Martínez-Porchas et al, 2010; Yuan et al, 2010; Shahin et al, 2011; Bessa Junior et al, 2012). This strategy has been used in commercial production systems because.

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