Providing an ideal environment would support the growth of shrimp in the pond. This could be started by making the construction of aquaculture ponds. There are several types of pond basic construction that are commonly used, namely from soil or plastic coated or made of concrete. Coating ponds with plastic is a solution for the many reasons that could support aquaculture productivity.
The reason why shrimp ponds should be covered with plastic
Shrimp ponds are often found on the coast or areas adjacent to the coast. Its main purpose is to facilitate the supply of seawater or brackish water. In fact, we know that generally in these areas the land has swampy or sandy characteristics. This condition would affect water quality or it would be difficult to print cultivation ponds.
The use of plastic could overcome, plus could anticipate the high porosity of the land and water leakage. In addition, it could overcome poor soil quality, erosion of embankments and subgrade by currents, as well as decreasing water quality due to soil. Plastic helps better pool construction. The embankment covered with plastic could prevent landslides when it rains so there would be no silting of the pond.
Keep in mind, shrimp ponds accumulate organic matter during cultivation that comes from wasted feed, shrimp feces, shrimp shells, dead shrimp, and dead plankton. All of them settle to the bottom of the pond to form sediment or pond mud. The bottom of the pond that is not properly controlled could cause problems in aquaculture such as increased ammonia levels, decreased DO, and other decreased water quality. So, in the end it would support the productivity of cultivation.
How could ponds be more productive?
The use of plastic could minimize the problem. That is by eliminating the direct interaction between water and soil that triggers anoxic reactions that are harmful to shrimp.
Pond maintenance is also relatively easy. If in the soil ponds, every inter-season preparation of cultivation requires soil turning, drying, fertilizing, and other treatments. This process could take up to 30 days. If in the plastic pond, cleaning and drying the pond take a shorter time. Cut the cleaning and prep time. Just need 4-7 days. Automatically, the productive period of the pond could increase every year.
Another reason is that the use of plastic could increase the productivity of aquaculture, the stocking density of shrimp could be higher. One of them is because the pond carrying capacity has increased. Without any soil elements in the pond environment makes the nutrient cycle at the bottom of the pond shorter or even cut if siphoning is done. Water quality management could be easier because the cleaning process of the walls to ponds could be done during the cultivation.
Indeed, to cover the ponds with plastic would take much money. However, back to the fact that ponds covered with plastic could increase productivity. So it would be in line with the capital for the initial construction. Plastic ponds could usually last 5-10 years.
One of the most suitable types of plastic for shrimp ponds is HDPE (high density polyethylene). This material has anti-ultraviolet power which makes it last for years, generally 5-10 years. This material is also flexible so it is easy to adapt the shape of the shrimp farm ponds.
The use of plastic does support productivity. If you use cement/concrete, is it the same?
(Eng: Danan)
