EFFECT OF FFERTILIZATION AND ARTIFICIAL FEED ON PRODUCTIVITY OF EARTHEN PONDS STOKED UNDER POLYCULTURE SYSTEM
Ahmed F. Fath El-bab; Ibrahim M. Samra;
Mohamed A. A. Mostafa and Ali H. Gouda
Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research, Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt.
Received 6/ 11/ 2012 Accepted 18/ 12/ 2012
Abstract
This experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of fertilization and artificial feeding on earthen ponds productivity stocked with different fish species. Five ponds (21ยด100 m) were stocked by different fish species; Oreochromis niloticus (ON), grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) (GM) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (CC). The five ponds were designed for five treatments and stocked with Oreochromis niloticus (4000 fish/pond), grey mullet (1500 fish/pond) and common carp (500 fish/pond). The experimental earthen ponds used in the study were Treatment 1 (control): artificial feeding (AF), Treatment 2: artificial feeding and organic fertilizer (poultry manure) (AFO), Treatment 3: artificial feeding + organic fertilizers (poultry manure) and inorganic fertilizers (urea and Triple super phosphate) (AFOI), Treatment 4: artificial feeding and inorganic fertilizer (urea, Triple super phosphate) (AFI) and Treatment 5: organic and inorganic fertilizer (urea, Triple super phosphate) (OI).
Results obtained are summarized in the following:
Treatment 3 (AFOI) recorded the highest ranges of body weight (BW), body length (BL), daily weight gain (DWG) and specific growth rate (SGR), while Treatment 5 (OI) recorded the highest range for condition factors (K).
Chemical composition: Treatment 4 (AFI) recorded the highest ranges for dry matter and protein content. While Treatment 1 (AF) recorded the highest ranges for ether extract and ash.
Based on results obtained in this study and on the economical evaluation, it could be concluded that tilapia, G. mullet and common carp can be cultured together in earthen ponds and growth parameters of the three species improved when fish fed the diet 25% protein plus organic and inorganic fertilizers. The favored economics of this treatment was reflected in the best ratio of returns to total costs.
