Studies on soil and water characteristics of Burrow pits for possible conversion into fish ponds in Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Soil and water parameters were investigated in 34 burrow pits in Egiland, Rivers State, in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The pits surface areas and depths ranged from 30,000 to 40,000 m² and 1.00 to 4.30 m respectively. Soil texture of pit bottoms varied from sandy clay to clay, while soil pH ranged from 3.40 to 6.60, with mean value of 5.57±0.66. Soil humidity and organic matter content had mean values of 22.21±6.04 and 12.72±9.35% respectively. Mean dissolved oxygen content of pit surface water was 2.93±1.73 mg/l, while surface water temperature was 28.83±2.79°C. pH, total alkalinity and total hardness had mean values of 6.45±0.66, 25.65±34.13 mgCaCO₃/1 and 110.20±79.69 mgCaCO₃/1 respectively. Secchi transparency values ranged between 5.00 and 50.00 cm. Economically important fish species such as Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis and Oreochromis niloticus were observed in the area.

Keywords: Burrow pits, fishponds, soil, water, Niger Delta

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 7(1): 88 - 93, 2011