Growth response of north African catfish fry to organic and inorganic fertilizers

Abstract

Background. Fertilizer application is considered a viable low-cost method of sustainable aquaculture production. This study was carried out to investigate the growth response of north African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), fry to inorganic- (NPK) and organic (cow dung and poultry dropping) fertilizers. Materials and methods. Catfish fry (0.05-0.06 g) were transferred for six weeks into a 0.13-m deep, culture units of the surface area of 0.135 m2. Each culture unit was treated with either cow dung +NPK (T 1), poultry dropping (T2), cow dung + poultry dropping (T3), control with no fertilizer (T4), NPK + poultry dropping (T5), cow dung (T6), NPK + cow dung + poultry dropping (T7), and NPK (T8). Results. Fertilizer type was found to influence the quality and quantity of plankton, which in turn determined the growth and well-being of catfish fry. The best weight increase was recorded in T1 (1.37 ± 1.01 g) followed by T2 (0.49 ± 0.31 g), and then T7 (0.40 ± 0.23 g). The survival rate in T1 (100%) and T2 (60%) were the highest relative to the control (T4)(87%). Dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature of culture water were variously affected by the treatments. Conclusion. The results indicate that mixture of NPK and either cow dung or poultry droppings would adequately cater for the growth needs of C. gariepinus fry before feeding on compounded diet.