Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Natural Food Composition and Performance of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fry Produced Under Artificial Propagation

Sebastian S Mosha,Jeremiah Kang’Ombe

doi:10.4172/2155-9546.1000441

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on natural food composition and performance of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fry produced under artificial propagation. In both experiments chicken manure, di-ammonium phosphate and no fertilizer were used as treatments. The first experiment was conducted to determine the abundance and diversity of natural food produced in tanks fertilized with chicken manure and di-ammonium phosphate fertilizer. The second experiment was conducted to assess growth performance and survival of catfish fry produced in chicken manure and di-ammonium phosphate at 5fry/m2 and 10fry/m2 stocking densities. Nine concrete tanks and eighteen concrete tanks were used in experiment 1 and 2, respectively. The results indicated that abundance of natural food (phytoplankton) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer applied tanks compared to other treatments. Zooplankton diversity was higher in tanks applied with chicken manure, followed by tanks applied with DAP fertilizer and least in tanks with no fertilizer. Fry growth performance was higher in fertilized tanks compared to unfertilized tanks. At low stocking density (5fry/m2) fry had better growth performance compared to high stocking density (10fry/m2) across all fertilizer types. Survival rates were not significantly different (P>0.05) between chicken manure and DAP fertilized treatments across stocking densities though significantly differed (P<0.05) from the control. Water quality parameters were found to be within the optimum range for cat fish in both experiments. In conclusion, the study indicated that higher phytoplankton abundance are attained with DAP fertilized tanks and Zooplankton diversity were higher in chicken manure applied tanks. Therefore, it is recommended that for better growth and survival in aquaculture practices, catfish fry should be raised in DAP or chicken manure fertilized tanks at low stocking density as suggested by this study.

Highlights

In recent times, the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, has gained popularity in aquaculture sector of Tanzania
Chlorophyta, cryophyta and diatomae were highly significant (P
Phytoplankton diversity was higher in tanks applied with DAP fertilizer, followed by tanks applied with chicken manure and least in tanks with no fertilizer

Summary

Introduction

The African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, has gained popularity in aquaculture sector of Tanzania. Great losses are in the hatchery, as fry weans over from yolk absorption to exogenous feeding [3]. This is due to inability to accept large sized feeds and assimilate protein from dry formulated diets [1,4]. Its cost is high and not available in developing countries especially in the rural fish farming [6] Due to this fact, it has been found important to provide the larvae with live feeds such as zooplankton or algae first before they are sequentially acclimatized to accepting formulated diets [2,7]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion