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The information presented on this page was originally released on May 12, 1997. It may not be outdated, but please search our site for more current information. If you plan to quote or reference this information in a publication, please check with the Extension specialist or author before proceeding.
Good Ponds Require Constant Check-Ups
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Keeping a good, productive pond is a constant battle against natural processes that keep habitats in an ever-changing state.
"All ponds and lakes are born to die," said Dr. Marty Brunson, Mississippi State University extension wildlife and fisheries specialist. "If given enough time without intervention, they fill up with silt, become shallow, then turn into a bog, marsh and finally dry land."
But the process can be postponed indefinitely. Regular observations, wise assessment of its condition and careful management can keep ponds pretty and productive for years.
"Maintenance depends on the pond and the purpose you want it to serve," Brunson said. "Ornamental, decorative ponds that are also recreational fish ponds require the most work."
Actual maintenance is periodic and done when changing conditions require it. Knowing when to make a change requires monitoring such things as aquatic weeds and fish populations.
"The thing that should be scheduled and done regularly is observation," Brunson said. "If you know what is normal and what to expect in your pond, you are then able to recognize a problem when it occurs."
Problems with the fish population are evidenced by changes in the fish. If their size is decreasing but more are being caught, there are likely too many fish in the pond. Sometimes undesirable fish numbers increase and pressure other populations.
Restocking certain fish solves some problems, as does harvesting or removing others. Each pond's particular situation will dictate what action should be taken.
"Another potential problem is aquatic vegetation," Brunson said. "Varying amounts of plants are desirable depending on the pond's use. But when plants interfere with fishing and access to the pond, they have become weeds."
Corrective measures are either chemical, biological or mechanical. Chemical control involves applying an aquatic herbicide approved for this use by the Environmental Protection Agency. Biological control comes from grass carp, which Brunson described as "living lawnmowers" that clear many types of aquatic vegetation in much the same way goats clear overgrown lots.
The third method of aquatic vegetation control is mechanical, or simply pulling the undesirable plants. This only works if there are not too many weeds to remove.
"Water quality can be a problem in ponds. Pond water can range from crystal clear to pea-soupy green, but neither extreme is desirable. Pond visibility should be 18 to 24 inches and colored by microscopic phytoplankton," Brunson said.
Phytoplankton, the basis of the pond food chain, require sunlight and feed on nutrients in the pond water. These tiny plants are eaten by zooplankton, tiny animals that form the next step in the food chain. Zooplankton are food for insects and invertebrates, which are eaten by tiny fish. Progressively larger fish eat the smaller fish until humans complete the pond food chain when they catch a beauty for the dinner table.
"The food chain is a natural process that can sustain itself if you have the proper input to fuel the process," Brunson said. "The input is fertilization."
When fish production is the primary objective, ponds should be fertilized with a commercial pond fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. On average, fertilization is necessary every four weeks from March to September.
"The food chain collapses if we don't have the foundational input of nutrition," he said.
With diligence and care, pond owners can battle the tendencies of nature to develop the pond that they want.
Habari za zamani zaweza kuwa za zamani Habari zilizotolewa kwenye ukurasa huu zilitolewa awali Mei 12, 1997. Huenda isiwe ya zamani, lakini tafadhali tafuta kwenye tovuti yetu ili upate habari zaidi za sasa. Kama wewe mpango wa kunukuu au rejea habari hii katika uchapishaji, tafadhali kuangalia na Mtaalamu Extension au mwandishi kabla ya kuendelea. Hifadhi nzuri ya ziwa inahitaji ukaguzi wa mara kwa mara - Kuhifadhi ziwa zuri, lenye uzalishaji ni vita vya mara kwa mara dhidi ya michakato ya asili ambayo inaweka makazi katika hali inayobadilika daima. "Bwawa na maziwa yote huzaliwa ili kufa,"" alisema Dakt. Marty Brunson, mtaalamu wa uendelezaji wa wanyama wa porini na uvuvi wa Chuo Kikuu cha Jimbo la Mississippi. "Ikiwa wanapewa muda wa kutosha bila kuingiliwa, hujazwa matope, huwa na kina kidogo, kisha hubadilika kuwa mabwawa, mabwawa na hatimaye ardhi kavu". Lakini mchakato huo waweza kuahirishwa kwa muda usiojulikana. Uchunguzi wa kawaida, tathmini ya busara ya hali yake, na usimamizi wa uangalifu waweza kuweka vidimbwi vyenye kupendeza na vyenye kuzaa kwa miaka mingi. Brunson alisema hivi: "Uhifadhi unategemea dimbwi na kusudi unalotaka litumike. "Vituo vya mapambo, vya mapambo ambavyo pia ni vidimbwi vya samaki vya burudani huhitaji kazi nyingi zaidi". Uhifadhi halisi ni mara kwa mara na kufanyika wakati mabadiliko ya hali inahitaji. Kujua wakati wa kufanya badiliko huhitaji kuchunguza mambo kama vile magugu ya majini na idadi ya samaki. Brunson alisema hivi: "Kile kinachopaswa kupangwa na kufanywa kwa ukawaida ni kuchunguza. "Ikiwa unajua ni nini cha kawaida na nini cha kutarajia katika dimbwi lako, basi unaweza kutambua tatizo linapoibuka". Matatizo ya idadi ya samaki yanaonyeshwa na mabadiliko katika samaki. Ikiwa ukubwa wao unapungua lakini samaki wengi zaidi wanakamatwa, yaelekea kuna samaki wengi sana katika dimbwi. Nyakati nyingine idadi ya samaki wasiofaa huongezeka na kushinikiza idadi nyingine za samaki. Kurudisha samaki fulani hutatua matatizo fulani, kama vile kuvuna au kuondoa samaki wengine. Hali ya kila dimbwi itatawala hatua inayopaswa kuchukuliwa. Brunson alisema hivi: "Tatizo jingine linaloweza kutokea ni mimea ya majini. "Ni jambo linalofaa kuweka mimea kwa kiasi tofauti-tofauti ikitegemea matumizi ya dimbwi hilo. Lakini mimea inapovuruga uvuvi na upatikanaji wa dimbwi hilo, imekuwa magugu". Hatua za kurekebisha ni za kemikali, za kibiolojia au za mitambo. Udhibiti wa kemikali huhusisha kutumia dawa ya kuua magugu ya majini iliyokubaliwa kwa matumizi haya na Shirika la Ulinzi wa Mazingira. "Kupunguza kwa viumbe kwa kutumia karp, Brunson alielezea kama ""mimea ya kupanda nyasi"" ambayo huondoa aina nyingi za mimea ya majini kwa njia ileile ambayo mbuzi huondoa mimea iliyojaa." Njia ya tatu ya kudhibiti mimea ya majini ni ya kiufundi, au kwa kuondoa tu mimea isiyofaa. Hilo hufanya kazi tu ikiwa hakuna magugu mengi sana ya kuondoa. "Ubora wa maji unaweza kuwa tatizo katika vidimbwi. Maji ya dimbwi yaweza kuwa safi kama kioo hadi kuwa ya rangi ya kijani-kibichi, lakini hakuna jambo lolote lisilofaa. "Uwezo wa kuona wa dimbwi lazima uwe wa inchi 18 hadi 24 na rangi ya phytoplankton ndogo, ""Branson alisema." Phytoplankton, msingi wa mlolongo wa chakula cha dimbwi, huhitaji nuru ya jua na kula virutubisho katika maji ya dimbwi. Mimea hiyo midogo hula plankton, wanyama wadogo ambao hufanyiza hatua inayofuata katika mlolongo wa chakula. Zooplankton ni chakula cha wadudu na wanyama wasio na uti wa mgongo, ambao hula samaki wadogo. Samaki wakubwa zaidi na zaidi hula samaki wadogo zaidi hadi wanadamu wanapomaliza mlolongo wa chakula cha dimbwi wanapomkamata mnyama mzuri kwa ajili ya meza ya chakula cha jioni. "Ufumbuzi wa chakula ni mchakato wa asili ambao unaweza kujitegemea ikiwa una pembejeo sahihi ya kuchochea mchakato huo", Brunson alisema. "Msaada ni mbolea". Wakati uzalishaji wa samaki ni lengo kuu, vidimbwi vinapaswa kufanywa na mbolea ya kibiashara ya vidimbwi ambayo ina nitrojeni, fosforasi na potasiamu. Kwa wastani, ni lazima kutengeneza mbolea kila baada ya majuma manne kuanzia Machi hadi Septemba. "Mnyororo wa chakula unaharibika ikiwa hatuna mchango wa msingi wa lishe", akasema. Kwa bidii na uangalifu, wamiliki wa vidimbwi wanaweza kupambana na mielekeo ya asili ili kuendeleza dimbwi wanalotaka.