Abstract
Nile tilapia feed on plankton in natural environments. This food source can be increased in ponds through fertilization and can reduce feed expenses or improve fish performance when used as supplementary food. Organic fertilization is an alternative to commercial fertilization; however, its use increases concerns regarding water quality and sanitary aspects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the use of poultry litter as organic fertilizer on the physical and chemical parameters of water, gill ectoparasite metazoan abundance, and growth of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during the culture cycle lasting 240 days. Four earthen ponds, two fertilized with poultry litter and two non-fertilized ponds, as fertilized and non-fertilized treatments, respectively, were used. Stocking density was 3 fish per m2 with an average initial weight of 0.64 ± 0.15 g. The mean water quality values and the growth performance parameters of Nile tilapia did not show significant differences between the two treatments. The gill parasites found in the fish belonged to the class Monogenea, comprising two genera, Cichlidogyrus and Scutogyrus, with significant differences between treatments. The non-fertilized treatment showed a high abundance of parasites throughout the culture cycle months, with peak abundance in the months with low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the water.
Highlights
Aquaculture is an expanding activity in Brazil, and the main species of fish produced in the country is the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, being the second most farm-produced fish in the world (FAO, 2018; PeixeBR, 2019)
The omnivorous filtering eating habits of Nile tilapia indicate a wide consumption of plankton, thereby reducing feed expenses, which can vary between 30% and 60% (Figueredo and Giani, 2005; FAO, 2010)
Organic fertilizer is commonly applied in the cultivation of Nile tilapia on this farm, and this management was followed in the previous production cycles
Summary
Aquaculture is an expanding activity in Brazil, and the main species of fish produced in the country is the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, being the second most farm-produced fish in the world (FAO, 2018; PeixeBR, 2019). The preference for this species in fish farming is due to characteristics such as rusticity in relation to climatic and sanitary conditions, easy reproduction, high survival of fry, and good acceptance in the consumer market (Braccini et al, 2013; Kumar et al, 2019). Its use raises concerns regarding water quality and sanitary aspects (Garg and Bhatnagar, 1999; Deka et al, 2018)
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