Claude E. Boyd

Phytoplankton communities of commercial catfish ponds in westcentral Alabama were usually dominated by green algae (Chlorophyta). Blue-green algae, which were usually the dominant forms of algae in channel catfish ponds at the Auburn University Research Unit (east-central Alabama), were seldom present in great abundance in the commercial fish ponds. The pond waters in west-central Alabama had total alkalinity values of 69-148 mg/liter as CaC03 while total alkalinity values were much lower (lO to 15 mg/ liter) in pond waters on the Fisheries Research Unit. Difference in total alkalinity...

Average depths of 35 ponds were computed by reliable mapping techniques. Average depths were also estimated from maximum depths X 0.4, soundings made along several transects across ponds, and sounding made along a single S-pattern over ponds. Assuming that average depths by mapping were accurate, averages of relative errors by other procedures were: maximum depth X 0.4, 12.60/0; transects, 9%; and S-pattern, 5.4%. The S-pattern required fewer soundings and.was the most reliable. If mapping is not feasible, 12 to 24 soundings made along an S-pattern over a pond will provide a suitable value...

A finely-pulverized agricultural limestone was much more effective than a coarse agricultural limestone in elevating the total alkalinity of ponds and of laboratory mud-water systems. The relative abilities of different particle-size classes of agricultural limestone to raise total alkalinity were determined. A method for correcting pond lime requirements for the neutralizing value and fineness of agricultural limestone was proposed.

When applied to ponds at equivalent rates, liquid fertilizer was much more effective than granular triple superphosphate in increasing futrable orthophate concentrations. Four methods of applying liquid fertilizers were tested: (1) liquid fertilizer was introduced into the intake side of a pump, mixed with water, and discharged into ponds, (2) a power sprayer was employed to spray the fertilizer over portions of pond surfaces, (3) a compression-type hand sprayer was used to spray fertilizer along shallow water edges of ponds, and (4) fertilizer was drained into the propeller wash of an...

Hellige Water Testing Outfits and a La Motte TRL-05 Water Testing Kit were evaluated by comparison with standard analytical methods. The testing outfits and kit often gave values for variables which were 80-120 percent of values obtained by standard methods. However, for some variables, and especially for total ammonia nitrogen, the testing outfits and kit did not provide reliable data for all concentrations. Results of the present study and earlier studies are summarized in tabular form to provide an assessment of the reliability of seven water testing systems.

Data were obtained on dissolved oxygen (DO) problems in 36 ponds used for the commercial production of channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus) in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. The frequency of DO concentrations below 2 mg/Iiter at dawn was greatest during summer when water temperatures were above 26C. On summer days, 20% or more of the ponds often had DO concentrations below 2 mgjliter at dawn. During the I54-day period, I May through I October, emergency aeration was employed a total of 410 times in the 36 ponds. During the summer, at least 1 pond was aerated most nights, and a maximum...

Many ponds in the southeastern United States have waters with less than 20 mg/ I total alkalinity and should be limed to insure good response to inorganic fertilization. Water analysis is the only technique for determining if a pond needs liming, and the liming rate can best be estimated from a lime requirement determination of the bottom mud. In some waters total alkalinity may be high, but total hardness low. Such waters frequently develop dangerously high pH when fertilized. Alum rather than acid forming fertilizers should be used as emergency treatment to prevent fish kills during...

Samples of the following 14 genera of algae were collected from various geographical or geological areas during the period from April to November 1965 and subjected to mineral determinations; Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Chara, Cladophora, Euglena, Hydrodictyon, Lyngbya, Micro cystis, Mougeotia, NiteUa, Oedogonium, Pithophora, Rhizoclonium, and Spirogyra. There was considerable variation in the levels of most elements, both within and between genera. Phytoplankton algae had low metal ion contents and high carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous concentrations. Nonplankton algae generally contained...