Abstract
Acid sulphate soil (ASS) is said to be problematic for agriculture and fish or shrimp aquaculture. We have collected 29 soil samples from 17 different shrimp aquaculture ponds in operation in Kalimantan of Indonesia. The ponds were constructed from 1991 to 1998. Element and X-ray diffraction analysis showed the presence of pyrite in the soil samples. Three types of soil pH measurements, Wet soil, Air dried soil and H_2O_2 processed, were carried out. The pH values varied widely and showed the potential of further acidification but in any case no sign of continuous linear decrease of pH with progress of time was observed. In these 17 ponds shrimp was cultured 70 times in total and 700kg of Black tiger shrimp was produced per pond per crop without any feeding in 2007. Older ponds showed larger average body weight of shrimp than newer ponds. In our study ponds shrimp has been cultured since 1991 and no case of shrimp mortality caused by soil acidification was observed. The proper pond management based on the usage of large tidal differences and river water flow might have contributed to this sustainable aquaculture production in potential ASS area.
