Integrated cultivation of whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) through soil remediation

Pond cultivation in coastal areas faces challenges due to high soil acidity and low fertility, making ponds unproductive for shrimp farming. This study aimed to explore effective soil remediation strategies to enhance productivity in aquaculture ponds that are currently classified as unproductive ponds. Two experimental treatments were applied: Treatment A with a stocking density of 60 postlarvae/m² and Treatment B with a stocking density of 30 postlatvae/m². Soil remediation was carried out through drying, soaking, and washing. The cultivation of whiteleg shrimp and tilapia was implemented with a consistent density of tilapia (2200 fishes/pond). Soil and water quality analyses were performed before and after remediation, along with measurements of growth, survival rate (SR), production, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) for both shrimp and fish. The findings showed that soil remediation significantly increases pH levels and reduces the concentrations of pyrite and Fe³ ⁺, contributing to improved water quality. In Treatment A, shrimp productivity reached 1552.2 ± 57.21 kg/pond with a survival rate of 61.40 ± 1.97%, and tilapia reached a production rate of 274.60 ± 32.62 kg per pond with an SR of 63.90 ± 2.97%, while Treatment B produced 960.25 ± 02.19 kg/pond with a survival rate of 68.83 ± 8.87%, and tilapia reached a production rate of 253.28 ± 33.73 kg per pond with an SR of 59.60 ± 7.07%. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) indicated good feed efficiency in both treatments. Soil remediation effectively improves pond environmental conditions, increasing productivity in whiteleg shrimp and tilapia farming. • Soil remediation effectively reduced acidity and toxic compounds, improving both soil and water quality. • Differences in soil texture between ponds influenced productivity. • Higher shrimp stocking density increased total yield but slightly reduced survival rate. • Integrated shrimp-tilapia farming demonstrated sustainable production benefits.