Influence of Abiotic Factors, soil and water characteristics on Dissolved Oxygen Dynamics and Fish Mortality in Saudi Arabian Aquaculture Ponds

A quaculture soil-water systems in Saudi Arabia face unique challenges due to the country's arid climate and extreme weather events. This study investigates the influence of abiotic factors on soil-water dynamics, dissolved oxygen levels, and fish mortality in Saudi Arabian aquaculture ponds. A novel environmental severity scale incorporating soil temperature, water quality parameters, and atmospheric conditions was developed to quantify their impact on aquaculture systems. Using data from 10 aquaculture facilities and controlled experiments, the relationships between environmental parameters, soil-water characteristics, dissolved oxygen levels, and fish mortality rates was analyzed. Multiple regression analysis revealed soil temperature as the dominant factor (93.01%) in predicting dissolved oxygen concentrations in pond water. Soil analysis showed significant correlations between soil organic matter content and dissolved oxygen levels (r =-0.87, p < 0.001), with critical thresholds identified at 50% and 75% severity levels. Fish mortality rates demonstrated a strong positive correlation with declining soil-water quality parameters (r = 0.91, p < 0.001), particularly when environmental severity exceeded 60%. A logistic regression model showed excellent performance in predicting system stress based on soil-water parameters. These findings provide a foundation for developing integrated soil-water management strategies for sustainable aquaculture operations in arid regions.