Effects of Agricultural Limestone on Water Chemistry, Phytoplankton Productivity, and Fish Production in Soft Water Ponds

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Abstract
Five ponds treated with agricultural limestone and five control ponds were stocked with Tilapia aurea and fertilized every 2 weeks with ammonium nitrate and triple superphosphate. Initially, total hardness and total alkalinity of the waters in the 10 ponds averaged 7.8 and 13.7 mg/liter, respectively. Liming caused a fourfold increase in total hardness and total alkalinity. Limed ponds had higher rates of phytoplankton productivity and yielded a 25% greater weight of fish than control ponds.