Effects of Stocking Density on Water Quality, Growth and Economic Benefits of Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle Pelodiscus sinensis in Ponds

The Chinese soft-shel ed turtle Pelodiscus sinensis is a high-valued freshwater species cultured in China. This study in-vestigated the effects of stocking density on water quality, growth performance and economic return of Pelodiscus sinensis cul-tured in ponds. P. sinensis were stocked at densities of 1 ind./m2 (LD: low stocking density) and 2 ind./m2 (HD: high stocking density) in 3 000-m2 ponds, with three replicate ponds for each density. P. sinensis juveniles were fed with a commercial dry pel et feed of 46% crude protein and minced fil et of silver carp ans cultured for 122 days. The results showed that the levels of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), Chlorophyl-a (Chl. a) and turbidity in LD treatment were significantly lower than those in HD treatment (P