Site properties for snail farming: the role of environmental factors and soil profiles in Cornu aspersum mineral content

Environ Monit Assess. 2024 Dec 2;197(1):2. doi: 10.1007/s10661-024-13449-6.

Abstract

The research aims to emphasize the importance of site selection in snail farming by examining how differences in environmental variables and regional characteristics influence the mineral content of Cornu aspersum snails. This is achieved through a comparative analysis of the mineral contents in their muscle tissue and shells, including calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, ash, and dry matter, across two locations in the Black Sea region: Fatsa (F) and Sinop (S). The study found that snails allocate resources based on available calcium to strengthen their shells for survival. Snails in Fatsa, with high sodium intake, may be unhealthy and suffer from dehydration, and the quality of their meat appears poor due to unfavorable calcium-to-phosphorus and sodium-to-potassium ratios. In Sinop, higher calcium and inorganic content in shells provided hardness, while high calcium in meat caused toughness. These findings underscore the significance of understanding and managing soil profiles for sustainable snail farming, thereby informing site selection and optimizing conditions for growth and nutritional quality.

Keywords: Cornu aspersum; Elemental composition; Ground; Surrounding condition.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Magnesium / analysis
  • Minerals* / analysis
  • Phosphorus / analysis
  • Potassium / analysis
  • Snails*
  • Soil* / chemistry

Substances

  • Soil
  • Minerals
  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium