By July, the heat is on, and primary productivity should be in high gear. Ponds fertilized with high productivity in mind will consume all available nutrients, and water quality must be monitored.
During the summer, phytoplankton should be booming, fueling the food pyramid. Water insects and other organisms consume the plankton. Sunfish and small minnows consume the water insects. Bass and catfish eat the sunfish and small minnows. From the bottom to the top, fertilization will improve the productivity of a pond in a hurry. A fertilization program can increase productivity by three or four times its natural capability.
Phytoplankton organisms are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye. A productive bloom will turn the water color to a green haze. Fortunately pond managers can check for plankton growth through water clarity. A Secchi disc can be used to determine clarity. One can be built using an 8- to 10-inch disc, painted half-black and half-white, and placed into the water. If any part of the disc can be seen greater than two feet below the surface, fertilizer should be applied. Phosphorus is the key ingredient. Bags of granular fertilizer (triple phosphate or 0-46-0 at 18 pounds per acre) can be placed in the shallow water with the top of the bags cut. The granular fertilizer should not be broadcast across the pond, since this method will sink to the bottom and not affect he water column as intended. Fertilizer should never be applied if the water clarity is less than two foot below the surface.
Be the first to comment