Can daytime aeration mitigate the effects of reduced pond depth in common carp production?

Authors: Novakov N.1, Srećković I.1, Vass N.2, Fazekas D.2, Fazekas G.2, Ljubobratović U.2, Stanivuk J.2 & Nagy Z.2

Affiliations: 1-University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad – Serbia; 2- Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences-MATE, Godollo - Hungary

Abstract:

Freshwater scarcity is an increasing challenge for pond aquaculture, making it essential to identify management practices that can mitigate the consequences of reduced water availability. This study examined whether supplemental daytime aeration can alleviate the effects of reduced pond depth on common carp (Cyprinus carpio) production, water quality, and physiological stress. A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted in eight 470-m² ponds over 90 days, combining two water depths (1 and 1.5 m) with either nighttime aeration or nighttime aeration supplemented by 2 h of daytime aeration. Production performance, water quality, cyanobacteria abundance, and physiological stress indicators were evaluated.

As expected, reduced water depth was associated with poorer production performance and less favourable environmental conditions. The central question, however, was whether daytime aeration provided a comparable benefit under different water depths. Supplemental daytime aeration had limited effects on production but influenced water quality and fish physiology. It reduced cyanobacteria, with the reduction being more pronounced in deeper ponds, while cyanobacterial abundance was lower overall in shallow ponds. Morning dissolved oxygen was lower in ponds receiving daytime aeration, indicating complex effects on oxygen dynamics. Nevertheless, both measured stress indicators were lower with supplemental daytime aeration.

These findings demonstrate that the value of daytime aeration should be considered in relation to water depth rather than independently of it. Under water scarcity, identifying management practices capable of reducing physiological stress and improving environmental conditions across different water levels may contribute to more resilient carp pond production.