Within the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in North China, farmers are using innovative methods to farming shrimp on the saline-alkali soil.
In North China, the saline-alkaline ecosystem, or salt desert, is an area where soil is severely salinized, resulting in extremely low vegetation cover due to severely salinized soil. Due to shallow groundwater levels and high atmospheric evaporation, the saline-alkaline desert ecosystem has suffered from severe secondary salinization, resulting in salt crusts and salt encrustations on the surface of the soil.
As a result of this dry continental climate and extreme temperature variations throughout the year, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region isn’t usually considered to be an ideal aquacultural region. Because, in shrimp farms, saline-alkaline poses many challenges due to its negative effects.
One of the trickiest issues has turned out to be maintaining the ponds’ salinity levels in the saline-alkali soil. Salinity is a sensitive factor for shrimp farming and excessive salinity can cause them stress or even death. The alkaline soil can also have a detrimental effect on shrimp pond water quality. Shrimps are stressed when their alkalinity is reduced.
Additionally, regulating water quality indicators like pH, dissolved oxygen, and ammonia levels can be difficult in saline-alkali regions.
Although extreme salinity disrupts both aquaculture and agriculture and makes it difficult to perform in this region, some have already overcome this situation.
In Duguitala Town of Hangjin Banner in the city of Ordos, several greenhouses are situated in an area of saline soil. They produce Whiteleg shrimp instead of crops, vegetables, or cows.
Shrimp farming in Ordos was carried out by about 40 aquaculturists and companies in 2022, with a total output of 350 tonnes and a value of $2.72 million.
The shrimp raised here are now exported not only to Inner Mongolia, but also to Shaanxi Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and even Chongqing Municipality in southwest China.
A number of innovative steps were taken by the farmers here in order to farm shrimp. The farmers desalinate the shrimp seedlings for about seven days before raising them in local waters. With this method, the cost has been cut in half while the chance of survival of shrimp larvae has increased to over 80%.
In order to reduce alkalinity, farmers also add microbes to shrimp feed to supplement potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other trace elements. During breeding, heavy metals and harmful microorganisms are removed from the water and the pH is frequently measured.
By optimizing the recycling model, farmers maximized the use of water resources. During the following year, repurposed shrimp water will be used to breed fish, and water from previously diverted water will be used to raise shrimp.
There is a lot of potential for shrimp cultivation in saline-alkaline land. A huge amount of saline-alkali land is available for the development of prawn farming in Ordos, which is about 28,000 hectares in size.
Also, the Shanxi Province has developed shrimp farming successfully, bringing wealth to its residents. Aquatic product dealers from neighboring provinces like Shaanxi and Henan come here to purchase Whiteleg shrimp from Xikaizhang village, Kaizhang township, Yongji city of Shanxi.
The expert also claims that in terms of size, protein content, etc., shrimp raised in saline-alkaline water are equivalent with those produced in seawater. It is therefore important to take this type of farming seriously in order to prove its potential in the future.
Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU
