Nour,, A., Nour, O. (2004). INTENSIFICATION OF NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) PRODUCTION IN EARTHEN PONDS: (1) EFFECT OF POND AREA AND STOCKING DENSITY.. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 29(7), 3809-3818. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2004.239289
A. A. Nour,; Omnia A. Nour. "INTENSIFICATION OF NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) PRODUCTION IN EARTHEN PONDS: (1) EFFECT OF POND AREA AND STOCKING DENSITY.". Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 29, 7, 2004, 3809-3818. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2004.239289
Nour,, A., Nour, O. (2004). 'INTENSIFICATION OF NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) PRODUCTION IN EARTHEN PONDS: (1) EFFECT OF POND AREA AND STOCKING DENSITY.', Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 29(7), pp. 3809-3818. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2004.239289
Nour,, A., Nour, O. INTENSIFICATION OF NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) PRODUCTION IN EARTHEN PONDS: (1) EFFECT OF POND AREA AND STOCKING DENSITY.. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 2004; 29(7): 3809-3818. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2004.239289
INTENSIFICATION OF NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) PRODUCTION IN EARTHEN PONDS: (1) EFFECT OF POND AREA AND STOCKING DENSITY.
1Dept. of Animal Production, Faculty of Agric. (Damanhour), Alexandria Univ., Egypt.
2Dept. of Agric. Economics,Faculty of Agric., Alexandria Univ.,Egypt..
Abstract
Twenty four earthen ponds of different areas (500,1000,1500 and 2000 m2 area and 1 m depth) were used for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production. Tilapia fingerlings (about 26g initial body weight! fish) were stocked at 5,10 and 15 fish/m2in each earthen pond area and reared for 210 days. Fish in each pond was fed on a commercial complete diet containing 30% crude protein, 2 times daily at feeding rates of 6,5,4,3 and 2.5% of fish biomass during t", 2nd,3rd and 4th and thereafter months respectively.
The obtained results showed that growth performance, survival rate and total yield/feddan significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increasing pond area from 500 m2 to 2000 m2. Under each tested pond area, it was noted a significant (P<0.05) decrease in growth performance and survival rate due to the increase in the stocking density from 5 to 15 fish/m2. Fish yield/feddan increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing the stocking density from 5 to 15 fish/m2.
Feed and protein utilization improved with fish reared in small pond area (500m2) than larger pond areas(1000,1500 and 2000 m2). Also, increasing the stocking density from 5 to 15 fishlm2 resulted in lower feed and protein utilization by tilapia fingerlings.
Economical evaluation of the obtained results showed that the small pond area (500m2) with high stocking rate 15 fish/m2 achieved higher income (101430 LEI feddan) and higher profit (19044 LE/feddan). However, the economic evaluation results showed that the optimum economical condition among the 12 tested treatments was the 2nd treatment (500m2 pond and 10 fish/m2).
From the above mentained results it could be concluded that small earthen pond ares (500m2) and high stocking density (15 fish/m2) with O. niloticus fingerlings are recommended for higher yield and income. Nevertheless, the % income Icost was infavour of 10 fish 1m2 along with 500 m2 ponds.