Growth performance, yields and economic benefits of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and kales Brassica oleracea cultured under vegetable-fish culture integration.
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Date
2011
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Abstract
An experiment was conducted for 210 days to demonstrate the role of vegetable-fish culture
integration in the growth, yields and economic benefits of fish and vegetables. Two 200 m2
earthen fishponds were stocked with Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus at 20,000 fish fingerlings
per hectare. Pond A was fertilized with chicken manure and stocked fish fed on 35% crude
protein supplementary diet referred to here as treated fish pond (TFP). Another fish pond was not
fertilized and the fish stocked in it did not receive any supplementary diet referred to here as non
treated fish pond (NTFP). Twelve vegetable plots of 7.2 x 3 m were planted with kale seedlings at
a spacing of 0.45 x 0.6 m. The first, second and third sets of three vegetable plots were irrigated
by water from stream (SW), treated fish pond (TFP) and non treated fish pond (NTFP)
respectively. The last three vegetable plots were not irrigated (NI). Sampling of kale leaves was
done by removal of the lowest three leaves per plant every four days. Results showed that fish
reared under integrated systems attained significantly higher growth than those reared under non
integrated systems (t-test, t=14.38, d.f. = 118, P<0.001). One way Analysis of Variance showed a
significant difference in kale leaf yields and income (ANOVA: F=63.17; P<0.05; d.f.=3) among
plots receiving different sources of water with plots receiving water from treated fish pond (TFP)
attaining highest yield and income. Gross and net yields of 2,806.969±198 and 2706.569±194
2
kgha-1 (for fish) and 51,970.49 and 51,968.63 kgha-1 (for vegetables) respectively attained were
highest from integrated than non-integrated systems. Partial enterprise budget analysis showed
that net returns were higher from integrated than non integrated systems. Results from this study
demonstrate that fish farmers could improve yields and profits by integrating fish farming with
other on-farm activities.
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Keywords
Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, Vegetable-Fish Culture
Citation
Shoko, A.P., Getabu, A., Mwayuli, G. and Mgaya, Y.D., 2011. Growth performance, yields and economic benefits of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and kales Brassica oleracea cultured under vegetable-fish culture integration. Tanzania Journal of Science 37: 37-48.