Development of Polyculture Engineering Technology on Milkfish and Mud Crab Farming

Abstract

The current study aimed to evaluate the role of polyculture engineering technology on milkfish and mud crab farming and observe the growth and survivability of different milkfish and mud crab combinations. The study used milkfish, which was received artificial feed containing 35 % protein content enriched with vitamin E (3%/biomass/day). The study used completely randomized design with 4 treatments (n = 3): T1 = 5 milkfish + 5 mud crab, T2 = 10 milkfish + 5 mud crab, T3 = 5 milkfish + 10 mud crab, T4 = 10 milkfish + 10 mud crab. The following parameters were measured: absolute weight growth, survival rate, feed conversion rate (FCR), and water quality. The difference in the density of milkfish and mud crabs significantly affected (p < 0.05) the growth and survivability of milkfish and mud crabs. The polyculture cultivation system exhibited a significant increase in absolute weight growth of milkfish and mud crabs, which is the highest increase found in T4 treatment (187.85 g ± 0.9 g and 60.65 g ± 0.95 g, respectively). Meanwhile, the survival rate of milkfish and mud crab was 95% ± 0.3% and 95% ± 2.3%, respectively, followed by a lower FCR at T4 (1.54 ± 0.10). The water quality remained good for fish and mud crabs to survive. Milkfish and mud crab polyculture greatly affect the abundance of phytoplankton, demonstrating good community structure.