AQUAPONIC FISH PRODUCTION TRIAL IN THE WARM WATER FISHERY FARM

Abstract

The trial was initiated to establish baseline on aquaponics fish production and to transfer the technology to farmer’s field following the study trial success. A total of 340 numbers, 220 numbers of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and 120 numbers of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were randomly selected as experimental fish along with onion for this trial. The growth performances of fish of four tanks (Treatment (T2), Treatment (T3), and Treatment (T4) & Treatment (T5) were recorded monthly through sampling 30 fish (each species) from each treatment tank. The feeding at the rate of 2% of the body weight of the fish were followed during the trail. Data gathered were analysed for descriptive statistics using SPSS. The initial weight and length of C. carpio and C. idella were 7.43g, & 7.55 cm and 4.81g, & 6.94cm respectively. The final average weight gained and length of C. carpio and C. idella were 11.83 g, & 9.5 cm and 9.86 g & 8.6 cm respectively. The C. carpio has revealed the highest survival rate of 62% and C. idella at about 36%. Although, there was no significant difference in performances of both fish species in all tank. The highest average weight and length of leaves (onion) of 189.55g & 38cm was recorded in Tank (T2) where the stocking density of common carp was 100 fish/tank, whereas the lowest 59.7g & 26 cm were found in treatment (T1) where there is no fish in the tank. However, the yield of plant was double the times higher in new technology aquaponics. Nevertheless, aquaponics can be a promising opportunity to reconceptualise the traditional fish farming, to fetch in more money from both fish and plant simultaneously at the farm.