Effect of Silvofishery on Ponds Nutrient Levels

Anna Ida Sunaryo Purwiyanto and Fitri Agustriani

ILMU KELAUTAN Juni 2014 Vol. 19(2):81-87
http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/ijms 



Abstract

Sembilang National Park is one of the national parks which is located in South Sumatera and became the largest mangrove area in western Indonesia. Most of the mangroves area in this national park has been experiencing conversion to be tidal ponds. This has resulted in concerns on mangrove forest destruction in the park. One of the efforts to maintain mangroves area is by applying silvofishery system, which is mangrove planting and cultivation of milkfish in ponds performed simultaneously. This study aims to investigate the water quality and nutrient condition in the ponds in the area of silvofishery restoration at Sembilang National Park. The study was conducted by purposive sampling method in the silvofishery ponds, non-silvofishery ponds, and river water bodies throughout the park. Measurements conducted on water quality parameters and nutrient content, especially nitrate and phosphate. The results showed that the presence of mangrove in the ponds area is able to improve the oxygen content and pH of pond water. Mangroves also demonstrated the ability to bind nitrates which indirectly will prevent the pond water from pollution. However, the high phosphorus content showed that young mangrove plants in the restoration area have not been able to significantly bind the of this nutrient. The results of this study showed that mangrove forests are very beneficial for aquaculture activities because of its ability to absorb nutrient pollutants.
 
Keywords: silvofishery; ponds; nitrate; phosphate; Sembilang National Park