Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Loach Farming in Lotus Root Fields

Pond Construction

Choose a site sheltered from wind and facing the sun, with convenient water inlet and drainage, slightly alkaline bottom soil, and no pesticide contamination to build the pond, generally with an area of about 1000 sq m. The field ridges must be reinforced, and netting or plastic sheeting should be buried to prevent loaches from burrowing and escaping. Install nets at the water inlet and outlet, and dig multiple pits in the field with an area of 5-8 sq m and a depth of more than 60 cm, preferably lined with bricks. Connected to the pits, dig several crisscrossing ditches with a width and depth of 30-40 cm each. The area of the pits and ditches accounts for about 10% of the total area of the lotus root field, serving as a habitat for loaches during summer high temperatures, pesticide and fertilizer application, and field drying of the lotus root field, while also facilitating concentrated harvesting.

Water Cultivation and Stocking

The lotus root pond should be cleared and disinfected according to the fry and fingerling cultivation method, with the water depth maintained at 30-50 cm, and organic fertilizer such as pig manure applied to cultivate water quality, with a dosage of 100-200 kg per mu. After the drug effect disappears and the pond water becomes fertile, loach fingerlings can be stocked. For fingerlings 3-4 cm long, the stocking density is 15-30 fish per sq m, and it can be appropriately increased where flowing water conditions are available.

Feeding Management

On the basis of fertilizing the water quality and providing natural bait, it is necessary to increase the feeding of animal-based feeds such as maggots, earthworms, mussel meat, fish meal, small miscellaneous fish meat, and livestock and poultry offal, as well as plant-based feeds such as wheat bran, rice bran, bean dregs, and oilseed cakes, or artificial compound feed. Generally, feed once each in the morning and afternoon, with a daily feeding amount of 5%-10% of the loach's body weight. Feeding should be flexibly controlled according to water quality, weather, and feeding conditions. When the water temperature is above 15°C, the loach's appetite gradually increases; 20-30°C is the suitable temperature range for feeding, and the appetite is especially strong at 25-27°C. When it exceeds 30°C or is below 15°C, as well as on thunderstorm days, feeding may be omitted. In addition, reasonable fertilization should be carried out according to the fertility of the water quality, with the pond water transparency controlled at 15-20 cm, and the water color preferably yellow-green. When the water temperature reaches 30°C, the pond water should be changed frequently, and the water depth increased; when loaches often swim to the water surface to gasp for air, it indicates oxygen deficiency in the water, so fertilization should be stopped and fresh water added.