Relative Growth Performance of Cyprinus carpio and Labeo rohita vis-à-vis Their Improved Strains in Integrated Rice-fish Culture System at High Altitude Terraced Paddy Fields

Abstract

Background: An experimental study was conducted to examine growth performance and economic feasibility of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) and Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) vis-à-vis their improved strains viz. Amur carp and Jayanti rohu, in synchronously integrated rice-fish system at high altitude terraced paddy-fields (HATPF). Methods: The experimental fields were stocked with carp fingerlings (6.95±0.67 g) at a density of 0.6 no. m-2 having common carp (T1), rohu (T2), Amur carp (T3) and Jayanti rohu (T4) under monoculture system, common carp+rohu (T5) and Amur carp+Jayanti rohu (T6) under polyculture. The study period was 120 days (July to November, 2022). Result: The study recorded average weight gain of 55.72±5.58 g and 57.08±4.05 g in monoculture and polyculture systems, respectively. Amur carp performed significantly better (p less than 0.05) than other species/strains. Survival rate ranges from 72% to 85% with Amur carp and common carp recorded higher survival than rohu and its strain. Through integration, about 243.2 to 350 kg ha-1 of fish can be produced without supplementary feed and earn about Rs. 60,800 to Rs. 87,500 ha-1 in a single crop. Amur carp and common carp were found more suitable for rearing in integrated rice-fish culture system at HATPF.