Many small-scale Asian aquaculture producers use fertilizers to increase giant gourami production because of the high price of feed. There have been no studies of fertilization of gourami ponds such as those conducted for many other fish species (Boyd and Tucker 1998). Such studies are needed to ascertain the most efficient fertilization rates for giant gourami culture ; data from such studies would ensure the use of adequate fertilization rates but avoid wasteful, excessive use of fertilizer. Production levels are similar for giant gourami and sunfish, Lepomis spp., cultured in ponds without feeding; thus, results of sunfish pond fertilization studies at Auburn University seem most applicable to giant gourami culture. The most recent recommendation for fertilization of sunfish ponds in the southeastern USA based on studies conducted at the E. W. Shell Fisheries Center, Auburn University, Alabama, is as follows: apply 6 kg N and 3 kg P2O5/ha of liquid fertilizers or predissolved granular fertilizers at 2- to 4-wk intervals to new ponds or to ponds from which sediment has recently been removed; nitrogen fertilization often may be reduced or omitted entirely in sunfish ponds
fertilized for 5 yr or more (Wudtisin and Boyd 2005; Boyd et al. 2008).
This study was designed to ascertain whether
or not the fertilization rate developed for sunfish ponds at Auburn University should be adjusted for use in giant gourami ponds.