Pond Management - South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

that it is covered by 18-24 inches of water. It should also be located
well away from the pond’s spillway or water control structure.
Next, pour the fertilizer onto the platform where water and wind
currents will distribute the nutrients as they dissolve. This method
keeps the fertilizer from direct contact with the pond’s bottom soils
which can tie up the fertilizer’s nutrients and significantly reduce
its effectiveness. One platform is sufficient for a pond three to five
acres in size. A second, less effective method is to slit the fertilizer
bag widely on one side and place it in shallow (one to two feet
deep) water with the slit side up so that the fertilizer can dissolve.
This method will not disperse the nutrients as well as a platform.
Broadcasting the fertilizer granules onto the pond bottom is not
recommended because much of the mineral content is wasted as it
is tied up in bottom sediments.
Liquid fertilizers are popular and provide a good alternative
to the granular form. Liquid fertilizers generally produce alga
blooms more quickly than granular products because they dissolve
immediately into the water. Applications should be made by
mixing the prescribed amount of the liquid fertilizer with water and
distributing the mixture over the entire pond using a boat. Do not
apply concentrated liquid formulations directly to the pond as this
material is heavier than water and will simply sink to the bottom,
losing much of its effectiveness.
Recently, highly soluble, powdered fertilizers have become
available. Typically applied at rates as low as two to eight pounds
per surface acre, they can be broadcast directly over the pond’s
surface. The low rates required and ease of application are offset to
some degree by the powdered fertilizers’ higher cost.
There are several circumstances when a pond should not be
fertilized including:
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