Effect of stocking density on growth, production and economic benefits of mixed sex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in polyculture and monoculture

Abstract

On-farm fish production experiments were conducted for 240 days to investigate the effect of stocking density on growth, yield and economic benefits of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in monoculture and polyculture with African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Low stocking density (LSD), medium stocking density (MSD) and high stocking density (HSD) of 30 000, 60 000 and 90 000 fish ha À1 respectively, were tested. O. niloticus cultured in polyculture attained significantly higher mean weight gain than those cultured in monoculture. O. niloticus and C. gariepinus raised together in polyculture attained significantly higher net annual yield than O. niloticus cultured alone in monoculture. Profitability analysis using partial enterprise budgets revealed that polyculture is a more profitable system than monoculture. The highest growth, yield and economic benefits were achieved at HSD and MSD than at LSD with no significant difference between HSD and MSD. Results demonstrate that farmers can achieve the highest net yield and economic benefits by culturing O. niloticus and C. gariepinus in polyculture at HSD and MSD, preferably MSD for economic reasons.

Action time and feed frequency of Lactobacillus plantarum for Nile tilapia

“…Although Nile tilapia have longer intestinal tract than Pacific shrimps, in this study LAB kept their counts higher only for four days after the last probiotic feeding, this difference may be related to the guest-host specificity. ) were suitable for the Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) culture (Shoko et al, 2016).…”

Fish polyculture system integrated with vegetable farming improves yield and economic benefits of small-scale farmers

“…The net annual yield of 5.68 ± 0.85 tonnes ha −1 year −1 for fishes alone obtained in the present study is lower than the yield of 8.02 ± 0.64 tonnes ha −1 year −1 reported by Shoko et al . () for polyculture of O. niloticus and C. gariepinus stocked at 3 fish m −2 in earthen ponds. The differences are attributed to lack of water exchange in the present study as opposed to 30% renewal of water per week that was performed by Shoko et al .…”

“…gariepinus and O . niloticus which are commonly cultured fish species have higher market demand, produce high yields, require low input resources to culture (El‐Naggar ) and are preferred as source of protein all over the world (Shoko, Limbu, Mrosso, Mkenda & Mgaya ). The polyculture of C. gariepinus and O. niloticus integrated with vegetables under IAA ensures increased production consequently offers higher profits to farmers.…”

Reproductive biology of female Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) reared in monoculture and polyculture with African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

“…Fish were fed on 297.50 g kg −1 crude protein diet made using locally available cotton seed cake 683.40 g kg −1 and maize bran 316.60 g kg −1 of dry feed (Table 1) adopted from Shoko et al (2014b). Food was supplied at a constant daily feeding rate of 5% per body weight for O. niloticus or for the combined body weights of O. niloticus and C. gariepinus in the case of polyculture.…”