. Agri-news. Agriculture. GO CO CO GO CO co c: May 27,1996 Controlling algae in dugouts A common problem for dugout owners is controlling algae in the water supply. Chemicals are available on the market, and they are effective control methods. If you're willing to start using control measures before the algae is blooming you may want to give barley straw a try. Research done in Alberta indicates that barley straw may be an effective algae control in dugouts. British research shows the growth of filamentous and unicellular algae can be inhibited by the presence of decomposing barley straw in wa
. Agri-news. Agriculture. GO CO CO GO CO co c: May 27,1996 Controlling algae in dugouts A common problem for dugout owners is controlling algae in the water supply. Chemicals are available on the market, and they are effective control methods. If you're willing to start using control measures before the algae is blooming you may want to give barley straw a try. Research done in Alberta indicates that barley straw may be an effective algae control in dugouts. British research shows the growth of filamentous and unicellular algae can be inhibited by the presence of decomposing barley straw in water. "There are two reasons why barley straw affects the growth of algae," says Orin R. Kenzie, Alberta Agriculture engineering technologist in Lethbridge. "It seems the rotting straw produces an algicide as it decomposes. The other school of thought is the microbes breaking down the barley straw use phosphorous for a food supply, reducing its availability for algae growth. One procedure used in dugouts is to cut the top off a 45 gallon polythene barrel and drill as many one inch holes in the sides as possible. Fill the barrel with barley straw. A weight in the barrel of 30-40 pounds will keep it submerged. Tie a rope to the barrel and attach a floating device so the barrel can be recovered. Straw in the barrel may have to be replaced two or three times during the summer. "Barley straw should be put out early in the spring to prevent excessive algae growth," adds Kenzie. "A massive algae bloom, seen later in the season will require bluestone and/or lime to get the situation under control. You may want to follow chemical treatment with barley straw to keep the algae growth ; Remember, if you are treating a dugout with copper sulphate (bluestone), follow all handling and application instructions. Copper sulphate is toxic to fish. Be extremely careful if your dugout is stocked. The treatment rapidly depletes dissolved oxygen in the water. If
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