Options for buffering, clearing ponds subject of May 20 webinar
AgriLife Extension program to cover latest research on lime products to improve water quality
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host a webinar on May 20, focusing on the latest research assessing traditional agricultural lime versus commercially available liquid lime products for buffering and clearing ponds.
The webinar will take place from 6-7:30 p.m., and the registration cost is $35. To register, visit https://tx.ag/Liming.
Water quality and the need to lime ponds
Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and associate professor in the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, will be the featured speaker. Sink is also the director of the AgriLife Extension Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory in Bryan-College Station.
Sink said a variety of water quality parameters can indicate when a pond requires liming to ensure the health of the pond and its fisheries.
“Water’s alkalinity, hardness and calcium levels affect fish survival and growth,” Sink said. “Alkalinity naturally decreases over time in a pond as photosynthesis and bacterial processes occur.”
Sink said this can lead to reduced productivity, decreased fish growth and smaller fish populations. In rare cases, it can even lead to fish death and collapse of recruitment to a fishery.
“The primary way to increase alkalinity, hardness and calcium is through liming,” Sink said. “Liming can also help clear muddy ponds, which also affects productivity and fish growth and can be aesthetically displeasing.”
Sink said new liquid liming products have been widely marketed as an alternative to the large volumes of traditional agriculture lime needed to lime a pond. He will discuss the latest research from Texas A&M AgriLife, which assesses the effectiveness of these products.
Webinar package available for 2025
This webinar is part of a 10-month expert series dedicated to providing pond owners and managers with up-to-date, scientific information related to maintaining the health and productivity of ponds.
A 2025 Aquatic Webinar Series Bundle is available for individuals who would like to register for all webinars throughout the year. The cost is $300 for the webinar bundle. Register at https://tx.ag/AquaticBundle.
Individuals who purchase the bundle will receive recordings of past webinars for 30 days.
For more information, contact Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension aquatic vegetation management program specialist and lead diagnostic scientist in the Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory, Bryan-College Station, at [email protected].
