Regulating the Carbon-to-Nitrogen ratio for enhanced reconstruction efficiency in Litopenaeus vannamei aquaculture systems

Abstract

Intensive shrimp farming faces challenges of water quality deterioration and excessive chemical usage. This study utilized glucose supplementation to regulate carbon-to-nitrogen ratios (C/N): C/N = 5 (control), 10, 15, and 20, comprehensively evaluating impacts on water quality, shrimp growth performance, and product quality. Results revealed that C/N = 20 significantly improved the aquatic environment, achieving reductions of 57.43 % in nitrite-N (NO₂⁻-N), 59.86 % in nitrate-N (NO₃⁻-N), 67.79 % in total nitrogen (TN), 67.02 % in total phosphorus (TP), and 98.37 % in ammonia-N (NH₄⁺-N). The C/N = 15 group demonstrated optimal growth performance, with body length, body weight, and specific growth rate (SGR) increasing by 15.91 %, 31.89 %, and 33.21 % respectively versus controls, while simultaneously enhancing muscle nutritional composition, amino acid profile, and textural properties. Organic carbon amendment promoted heterotrophic microbial dominance, forming bioflocs that improved feed utilization efficiency. By integrating microbial ecological regulation with nutritional management, this study establishes a scientifically validated, eco-friendly aquaculture strategy that reduces dependence on chemical interventions, offering dual theoretical and practical significance for sustainable industry development.