Efficacy of vermicompost as fish pond manure – Effect on water quality and growth of Cyprinus carpio (Linn.)

Abstract

Experiment was conducted in (0.002 ha) cemented tanks for 120 days to assess the efficacy of vermicompost as fish pond manure at a dose of 10,000 kg/ha/year (VC 10), 15,000 kg/ha/year (VC 15) and 20,000 (VC 20) kg/ha/year) in comparison to semi-digested cow dung (8–10 days old), which was utilized at a dose of 20,000 kg/ha/year (CD 20). One fourth of the doze was applied 15 days prior to fish stocking and rest in equal weekly installments. Twenty fingerlings of common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Linn.) were stocked (10,000/ha) and fed with supplementary diet @ 2% of their body weight daily. Water quality parameters were found to be within the optimum limits for carp culture in all the treatments. Zooplankton production in all the treatments did not differ significantly. Fish growth in terms of weight gain, percent weight gain, specific growth rate and yield was maximum in VC 15 followed by VC 20, VC 10 and CD 20.