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Biological treatment of wastewater in marine shrimp farm with Enhalus acoroides grown in paper cups and gunnysack.

Country:Thailand
Student(s):Ms.Kanyarak Seesuk Ms.Tanyarat Subsin
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Member(s):SIRIKWAN NUPHUTI
Contributors:
Report Type(s):Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Water Temperature, Salinity
Presentation Video: View Video
Presentation Poster: View Document
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:2026-01-30
This image displays the experimental laboratory setup for treating wastewater from marine shrimp farms using Tape seagrass (Enhalus acoroides). The setup shown specifically utilizes gunny sacks as a planting medium, which emerged as the most successful method in this project. Compared to other materials, the gunny sack provides an optimal environment for the seagrass to thrive, resulting in the highest growth rate.
The marine shrimp farming industry is a vital economic pillar for Southern Thailand. However, the cultivation process requires substantial water consumption and generates wastewater laden with inorganic pollutants. Excessive accumulation of these substances poses significant threats to aquatic life and marine ecosystems. Current treatment methods, such as sedimentation and continuous aeration, incur high operational costs, while chemical-based biological treatments often leave harmful residues. Simultaneously, field observations at Hat Mod tanoy, Trang Province, revealed a severe degradation of Enhalus acoroides (Tape seagrass). Conventional propagation methods involving rhizome immersion in seawater exhibit slow growth rates, insufficient for timely ecological restoration. This study, titled "Biological treatment of wastewater in marine shrimp farm with Enhalus acoroides grown in paper cups and gunnysack" explores the dual benefits of phytoremediation and accelerated seagrass growth. Drawing on research from Prince of Songkla University, which highlights the nutrient-absorption capabilities of seagrass, this project aims to evaluate the efficiency of wastewater treatment and compare different cultivation techniques. The experiment consists of four treatments, each with three replicates:1. Shrimp farm wastewater with sand cultivation. 2. Shrimp farm wastewater with paper cup cultivation. 3. Shrimp farm wastewater with jute sack cultivation. 4. Natural seawater without sand (Control). Efficiency in Improving Effluent Quality The study found that Halophila ovalis has significant potential to improve shrimp farm effluent quality, particularly by increasing Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and stabilizing pH suitable for the ecosystem. When comparing support materials, "Gunnysack" was the most effective. Growth Rate and Biological Factors Biometric results show that planting material significantly affects survival and development. Seagrass planted in gunnysacks had the highest growth rate in terms of leaf number, width, and length over 4 weeks.



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