The effect of cow dung and poultry droppings on plankton abundance and growth of Heterbranchus longifilis x Clarias gariepinus hybrid, reared in concrete ponds

Abstract

Plankton abundance and growth of fingerlings of hybrid cross between Heterobranchus longifilis (male) and Clarias gariepinus (female) were monitored in six concrete ponds for fourteen weeks. The one hundred and twenty fingerlings were subjected to three treatments. Two replicated ponds were fertilized with poultry droppings and cow dung while the third had no fertilizer, which served as the control. While the fertilized ponds had significantly higher (p<0.05) plankton abundance than the unfertilized, there were no significant difference (p>0.05) between those of poultry droppings and cow dung. The mean total length (MTL) measurements of the fingerlings were not significantly different in the three treatments, but the mean weight gain (MWT) and specific growth rate (SGR) of the fertilized ponds were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the unfertilized ponds. These results indicate that organic manures are essential for plankton production and that plankton diet appears to enhance fish growth better than compounded dry feed especially during the early stages of development.

> Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2 (4) 2006: pp. 197-201