The Culture of Freshwater Prawn, <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i> in Kharland (saline) Ponds of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra

Abstract

The coastal saline soils locally called as ‘Kharland’, though unsuitable for agriculture can be utilized for the culture of prawns and fishes. The Kharland ponds were prepared for the culture by applying lime, cattle dung, urea and single super phosphates in appropriate doses to create suitable environment for culture. The prawn culture was done in two rectangular ponds with an area of 450 m2 (0.045 ha) each. Post-larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii were stocked @ 50,000 per hectare. The initial average size and weight of post-larvae stocked were 11.00±3.04 mm and 13.0±5.1 mg in pond P1, and 11.00±3.14 mm and 13.00±8.12 mg in pond P2. The prawns were fed with laboratory-prepared feed @ 10% of the biomass every day. After a period of four months the prawn grew up to 88.0±6.5 mm and 2169.0±3.08 mg in pond P1 and 85.0±4.2 mm and 1980.0±9.8 mg in pond P2. The study suggested possible utilization of Kharland ponds for culture.