Hyperintensive stocking densities for Litopenaeus vannamei grow‐out in biofloc technology culture system

Abstract

AbstractSearching for potential increases in shrimp yields, this study evaluated the effects of different stocking densities on water quality and production performance of juvenile shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, reared on a biofloc‐dominated system throughout 77 days. The organisms (1.27 ± 0.54 g) were stocked at three densities, 400 (T400), 500 (T500), and 600 (T600) shrimp/m2 corresponding to 500, 625, and 750 shrimp/m3, with three replicates each, in nine 35 m2 tanks with 28 m3 of workable volume inside a greenhouse. Shrimp were maintained at optimal conditions for the species with an average temperature of 28.9 ± 0.1°C, dissolved oxygen average above 6.0 mg/L, and pH above 7.3. Significant differences in yields (3.52 ± 0.05, 4.02 ± 0.06 and 4.22 ± 0.40 kg/m2 or 4.39 ± 0.07, 4.48 ± 0.08, and 5.27 ± 0.49 kg/m3) were observed between treatments (T400, T500, and T600, respectively), and for final mean weights (12.3 ± 5.53, 12.2 ± 3.89, and 10.2 ± 3.49 g, respectively). These results suggest that 500 shrimp/m2 or 625 shrimp/m3 is the optimum stocking density for Biofloc Technology culture under the defined study conditions.