Abstract

The most important goals of mechanization in aquaculture are to reduce the production costs and improve profitability, reduce production risk, observe health and prevent diseases, and observe environmental aspects in production, improving quality of farm effluents and proper nutritional management leading to higher level of productivity. This research was conducted aiming at investigating the efficiency of mechanization on quality of wastewater in dual-purpose rainbow trout culture farms in Markazi province of Iran. 30 dual-purpose rainbow trout culture farms with high production capacity and more ponds located in 5 cities of the Markazi province were selected and their mechanized tools were determined. The physical and chemical factors of inlet and outlet water, including dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrite, ammonia, nitrate, phosphate and total suspended solids were measured. Although water factors of most of the studied farms were acceptable for raising rainbow trout, various variables such as amount of production, health management, quality and quantity of washing ponds, output and discharge improper pools, failure to use siphons between two outlets, failure to implement fishing patterns, improper siphonage and drainage are effective in farm performance and disrupt the balance of physical and chemical factors of water and challenged the efficiency of mechanized devices and equipment used in the farms.

Keywords: Mechanization, Dual-purpose Farms, Rainbow trout, Outlet, Inlet, Markazi Province