Impact of effluents from fish and prawn culture ponds on ground water and adjoining mango gardens in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Kumari A. L., Reddy K. G., Moula S. P.
Author Affiliation: Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur - 522 034, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Journal of Research ANGRAU 29 : 57-60
Abstract : In Coastal Districts, a large extent of fertile, cultivable lands were converted into fish or prawn culture ponds. Seepage of effluents from fish and prawn culture ponds showed adverse effects not only on the drinking waters of adjacent tanks, wells, etc. but also on the soil properties of nearby mango orchards in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Mango orchards nearer to the brackish water prawn culture ponds of Tangutur mandal in Prakasam district were affected due to seepage of effluents from the ponds and a surface soil salinity of 3.4 d Sm-1 and a subsoil salinity of 2.6 d Sm-1 were recorded in the soil profile. The mango trees initially showed the symptoms of drying of leaves and twigs and were completely dried ultimately. Quality of tank water which was used for drinking earlier in Ananthavaram village of Tangutur mandal was deteriorated and had an EC of 23.5 d Sm-1 due to seepage of effluents from nearby brackish water prawn culture ponds. Fresh water fish culture was found to be confined to waste and unproductive lands in this district.