SOIL QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE HANDLING OF PONDS AND WETLANDS/LAKES FOR FISHERIES

Soil quality is crucial for managing ponds and wetlands/lakes for fisheries, as it affects overall sustainability, productivity, species health, and water quality. The quality of the soil is the most crucial element in establishing whether a location is suitable for fish culture operations because it creates the embankment and retains water. Soil quality also serves as a biological filter, stores and provides nutrients for the lowest-level species in heterotrophic and autotrophic food webs. Soil quality refers to a soil's capacity to support biological productivity, preserve environmental quality, and maintain plant and animal health within ecosystem and land use boundaries. It considers the subsurface component of terrestrial ecosystems and the relationships between soil functions and ecosystem services.