Organic Enrichment of Fish Ponds: Application of Pig Dung vs. Tilapia Yield

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of pig dung pond fertilization to test tilapia yield at each level of concentrations. The concentrations used were 8.36, 20.89 and 33.43 g/m³/day; for Low Concentration of Pig Dung (LCPD), Medium Concentration of Pig Dung (MCPD) and High Concentration of Pig Dung (HCPD) respectively. Fish in the treated ponds received no supplementary feeding throughout the experimental period. In this study, the effect of pig manure on water quality, the survival and growth of Oreochromis niloticus, the carcass composition of the fish were investigated. Growth indices were low in LCPD and they increased successively in MCPD and HCPD; however, they compared favourably well with those recorded in the control ponds in which the fish were fed. Survival was highest (96%) in HCPD and control ponds while the lowest (86%) was recorded in the LCPD experimental. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in fish carcass composition at the end of the experiment. Water quality parameters monitored during the experimental period were all within favourable range for aquaculture production; with daytime mean values of dissolved oxygen being 7.84±0.38, 8.92±0.44 and 7.77±0.56 mg/l in LCPD, MCPD and HCPD experimental ponds respectively. Also, HCPD experimental ponds yielded better growth indices and compared favourably with results obtained in the control experimental ponds.