Nitrate and Phosphate Toxicity on Post Larvae of the Giant Fresh Water Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) Individual and Synergistic Effects

Abstract

The indiscriminate use of fertilizers has resulted in nutrient enrichment giving rise to eutrophic conditions in many freshwater bodies in Sri Lanka. Few studies have investigated effects of field levels of nitrate and phosphate on commercial freshwater species. The present study therefore attempted to assess the individual and synergistic effects of nitrate and phosphate on post larvae of the Giant fresh Water Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, which are released in large quantities into reservoir systems of the dry zone of Sri Lanka.