EFFECT OF LIME AND CHICKEN MANURE ON WATER INFILTRATION IN FISHPONDS

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of lime and chicken manure, two substrates commonly used in continental aquaculture, reducing water losses through seepage into fishponds. For this, we used a statistical design of randomized blocks, where the sampling units simulated aquaculture ponds dug in 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.20 m. The treatments were based on the use or non-substrates, applied on the surfaces of the bottom of these ponds, namely: T1 - Treatment without substrate, T2 - Treatment with limestone (100 g.m-2), and T3 - Treatment with manure Chicken (250 g.m-2). In each sampling unit, the following parameters were measured: soil moisture (Ug), bulk density (BD), particle density (Dp), total pore volume (VTPs), cumulative infiltration (Ia) and infiltration rate ( TI), the latter two are determined by the method of infiltrometer rings. The results indicated that treatment with lime was the most efficient in reducing water losses through infiltration. Furthermore, we noticed that the ring infiltrometer was an important tool and therefore can be used in the estimation of water losses through seepage into fishponds.