Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Carbon Budgets in Polyculture Ponds of Indian Major Carps and Giant Freshwater Prawn in Orissa State, India

A nutrient budget was quantified for six polyculture ponds of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and Indian major carps (Catla catla, Labeo rohita, and Cirrhinus mrigala). The initial stocking size of prawn postlarva was 16.50 ± 0.54 mm with a body weight of 0.05 ± 0.001 g. Body weight of major carps was 9.0 ± 0.89 g. The duration of culture was 280 days. Feed accounted for 82% of total nitrogen (N), 93% of total phosphorus (P), and 95% of organic carbon (OC) inputs. Harvest of prawn and carps recovered 44% N, 1% P, and 19% OC. N, P, and OC accumulated in sediment were 47%, 73%, and 69%, respectively. Nutrient load in the harvest water was 0.67 ± 0.21 kg inorganic N, 0.15 ± 0.01 kg P, and 7.72 ± 0.62 kg OC per ton of Indian major carps and prawn.