Sprinkling: a new method of distributing live algae food in marine coastal ponds used for Manila clam Tapes philippinarum (Adams & Reeve) intensive culture
Résumé
Sprinkling, an agricultural irrigation technique, has been tested for the intensive culture of Manila clams up to marketable size (35-50 mm) in coastal ponds 400 m² in area. The sprinkling system is used for the distribution of seawater and live algal food Skeletonema costatum (Grev,) Clev. Sprinkling is a simple, low cost and efficient method of food distribution which resolves the major problem of decreasing bivalve growth associated with single point water entry in small-scale raceways. Uniform growth obtained with sprinkling is principally due to an even scattering of food over the whole surface area of large-scale ponds.