Liming is an important part of nursery pond maintenance; having a fovourable effect on the health of the fry and increasing the natural productivity of the ponds. Some of the beneficial effects of liming can be summarized as follows:
Ø Disinfection of the pond bottom (only quick lime).
Ø Increase the pH of water and pond bottom to an optimum level (pH 7-9) for plankton and fish production.
Ø Increase the alkalinity of water; adequate alkalinity is required to ensure pH stability and neutralize harmful the effects of magnesium, sodium and potassium salts.
Ø Increase pond productivity through increase biological activity and availability of minerals in the pond bottom
The most commonly used liming compounds are quicklime (Ca0), caustic lime also called slaked lime or hydrated lime (Ca(OH2), and agricultural lime. The required amount of lime depends upon acidity of water and soil and the alkalinity of the soil, and consequently varies from region to region and from pond to pond. In general heavy loam or clay soils require more liming than sandy soils and newly excavated ponds require more liming than used or old ponds.
The quantity of liming required also depends also upon the type of lime used, since the neutralizing capacities of these compounds are different. The estimated quantity required depending on pH is:
Quick lime: 7 – 10kg/100m2
Caustic lime: 7 – 13kg/100m2
Agriculture lime 20 – 30kg/100m2
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