Utilisation of Sun Dried Azolla Caroliniana in Substituting Groundnut Oil Cake in the Conventional Carp Feed

Abstract

Sun- dried and powdered Azolla caroliniana substituting 20, 40, 60 and 63.6% of the protein supplement (groundnut oil cake) of the conventional diet (at 10, 29.2, 60 and 63.6% incorporation in diet, respectively) of Indian major carp was fed to Labeo rohita fingerlings for a period of 90 days. Substitution of groundnut oil cake up to 40% in the protein supplement resulted in 115.48±4.20% and 24.85±4.22% increment in the fish body weight and length, as against compared to 100.40±4.53% and 23.38±1.05% in the control, respectively. There was no significant (P < 0.05) variation in the muscle protein and moisture contents. Feeding on a diet with increased substitution of groundnut oil cake by Azolla (60% or more in protein supplement) resulted in lower body weight and length increment as well as lower muscle protein content, with no significant difference in moisture content as compared to the control diet.