Production of freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates from pig dung: fertilization effect and optimal dose research

Abstract

Different pig dung doses were used to fertilize medium production of freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates in order to test the fertilization effect and determine the optimal dose. In fact, the experiment was carried out in triplicate, for 42 days in plastic buckets. These buckets were grouped in seven treatments (T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, T₅, T₆, and T₇) which were fertilized (respective doses of 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% with pig dung in relation to the total substrate volume) and a control (T₀) which was not fertilized (0% of pig dung). Each bucket was seeded in benthic macroinvertebrates with an initial density of 9 individual/dm³ (D₀). The results revealed that the utilization of pig dung improved the water chemical properties in the production medium as well as the macroinvertebrates density (p < 0.05). The optimal production of the latter was obtained with the dose of pig dung applied to treatment T₅ (50%), that is 150 g of dry dejections per dm³ of substrate (150 g/dm³) with a total average density of 742 ± 569 individual/dm³. The treatment T₅ (50%) constitutes then the dry pig dung optimal dose to be recommended for benthic macroinvertebrates production.

© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Fertilization, macroinvertebrates, optimal dose, pig dung, production