ECOLOGICAL AND FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE NOZHA HYDRODROME NEAR ALEXANDRIA 2000 - 2001 1. CHEMISTRY OF THE NOZHA HYDRODROME WATER UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF FERTILIZERS APPLICATIONS

ECOLOGICAL AND FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS

OF THE NOZHA HYDRODROME NEAR ALEXANDRIA 2000 – 2001

1. CHEMISTRY OF THE NOZHA HYDRODROME WATER UNDER THE
CONDITIONS OF FERTILIZERS APPLICATIONS
BY
LAILA SHAKWEER
National Institute ofOceanography and Fisheries
Key words: Fertilization – Fish Farms – Hydrochemistry – Nozha Hydrodrome.
ABSTRACT
The Nozha Hydrodrome near Alexandria is being jertilized by
superphosphate and ammonium nitrate. Fertilization is carried out with
the aim ofincreasing the annual fish production ofthe Hydrodrome. This
production has been about 60,000 tons and increased to 200,000 tons after
fertilizers application. The water chemistry of both the Hydrodrome as
well as its feeding canal were investigated.
The average seasonal values ofpH ranged from 7.02 to 7. 73 andfrom
8.13 to 8.67 in the feeding canal and the Hydrodrome waters respectively.
The average values of total dissolved solids ranged from 0.32 and 0.58
gmIL in the jeeding canal, compared with 2.34 and 3.86 gmiL in the
Hydrodrome water.
It can be pointed out to the fact that the NozhaoHydrodrome is well
aerated. The average values ofdissolved oxygen varied between 5.60 and
9.05 milL dUring summer and winter in respective.
The average values of nutrient salts in the Hydrodrome water were
found to fluctuate between: 0.92 to 2.35 Jig atlL for phosphate 1.44 to
6.98 Jig atlLfor nitrate and 3.94 to 24.43 Jig at/Lfor silicate.
These ecological parameters indicate that the Nozha Hydrodrome
water is a suitable environment for living, growing, and breeding ofmost
of the fish species inhabiting this fish farm under the conditions of the
application ofinorganic fertilizers.