Integrated Fish Farming for Fish and Agriculture

The Channel Maintenance Research Institute (CMRI) and the Water Management Research Institute (WMRI) along in partnership with the Central Laboratory for Environmental Quality Monitoring (CLEQM), under umbrella of the National Water Research Center (NWRC), have accomplished a research study to manage the use of groundwater in desert areas. The objective of the study is to maximize the utilization of groundwater by means of encouraging integrated farming (fish - agricultural) on groundwater water in desert areas. The extracted groundwater is used to supply fishponds and ponds’ wastewater subsequently is used in crops cultivation. The study area was selected in Wadi Al-Natroun Research Station, Beheira Governorate The results of the study demonstrated that fish production obtained was pollutant-free. The discharged water out of ponds was rich in nutrients beneficial to agricultural land and plants, such as phosphates and nitrogen. The organic matter content of the soil increased as a result of irrigation with pond wastewater. This organic matter content is important especially for sandy lands that are poor in its organic matter content. Finally, a good economic return was obtained for net yield per feddan of maize and beet crops that were irrigated with fish farm wastewater. The study recommended the possibility of expansion in integrated fish farming (fish - agriculture) on groundwater water in desert areas in general to achieve the most tangible economic, and social return.