Abstract

Studies recently conducted at the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station's Rice Research Station investigated population density and supplemental feeding as factors affecting growth and production of crayfish in typical detrital-based ponds. This paper summarizes those investigations. Studies were conducted in small ponds, planted in rice, and managed to simulate commercial crayfish ponds. Wire­mesh enclosures placed within additional ponds containing standing rice substrates were also utilized. Densities varied from 2 to 20 crayfish m^-2 and feeding rates varied from Oto 418 kg ha^-1 week^-1. Crayfish growth was profoundly and inversely correlated to population density, and only density significantly affected the average size of trap-harvested crayfish. When compared with density as a factor influencing growth, supplemental feeding influenced growth less than density abatement. The addition of supplemental feed to a rice-detrital system improved crayfish growth in one study, increased total production in another, but failed to significantly increase the average size of harvested crayfish. In one study, the low feeding rate (26-52 kg ha^-1 week^-1) did not significantly reduce mean individual weights but a higher rate (104-418 kg ha^-1 week^-1) significantly increased standing crop biomass.

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