Benefits
Correct fertilization can increase the pounds of fish that a lake can support by up to 400 percent due to increasing the abundance of phytoplankton that is eaten by zooplankton (microscopic animals) which in turn is eaten by small fish and insects. In properly constructed ponds, a proper fertilization program can help control rooted aquatic weeds. In a well fertilized pond, the phytoplankton become so abundant that the bloom limits sunlight penetration deeper than about 18 inches. This shading of the deeper water prevents rooted green plants (which must have sunlight to grow) from becoming established
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Use
Fertilization begins in the spring once the surface water temperatures stabilize above 60 degrees F. Once a plankton bloom is established it can be maintained throughout the fall will small doses (4-6 pounds per acre) of fertilizer. It is important to always follow directions or contact a fisheries professional because improper or overfertilzation is capable of causing unbalanced fish populations, increased weed growth or even oxygen depletion which can cause fish kills. A pond should be analyzed for lime deficiency (total hardness less than 10 ppm) every three to five years. Many ponds in Texas have very soft water and will not develop satisfactory plankton blooms unless lime is periodically added to the water.
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