Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF BIOFLOC ON THE GROWTH OF OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS AND PAMPUS ARGENTEUS

Celcia Gnana Rathinam, Abishai Chrio Charles, Christina Yesuraj and Kamanuri Sunil Kumar

Abstract

In the present world, with almost 7.98 billion population on earth (United Nations, 2022), there is always an increase in demand for aquatic food and hence, expansion and intensification of aquaculture production are highly required (Avinimelech, 2009). Presently, in India, the rate of commercial fish farming is rapidly increasing. Though fish culture is highly profitable, there are some inevitable problems faced by the aquafarmers during culture period. Among various factors which influence the culturing and production of fish, water availability, toxic nitrogenous wastes and diseases caused by various pathogens are the most important. To meet the need of increasing population, various strategies have been developed through different techniques, one of which is Biofloc Technology. In the present study, Oreochromis niloticus and Pampus argenteus were chosen to study the effect of biofloc on the growth of the fish. Fishes were cultured in three tanks which includes two individual cultures and one mixed culture. The culture was carried out for four months. During this culture period, the water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and dissolved oxygen were analysed once in two days. The microbes present in the Biofloc and the water samples from the three culture tanks were analysed. In the biofloc different bacterial species which include Bacillus sp., Klebsiella oxytoca, Shigella sp., and fungal colonies Mucor sp. and Rhizophus sp. were identified. In the water samples from the culture tanks bacterial species namely Bacillus sp., Klebsiella oxytoca, Shigella sp., Salmonella paratyphii A, Pseudomonas sp. and fungal colonies namely Mucor sp., Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp., and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated. The growth, protein content and the fat content were found to be significantly higher in the fishes cultured under biofloc technology when compared to the control fishes (pond fishes). In the experimental groups of fishes, the parameters studied were significantly higher in the mixed culture. The taste and quality of the fishes was also found to be good in the case of biofloc cultured fishes. After the culture, the fishes were harvested and sold in the market. For 4 months culture, there was an income of Rs. 99,250. The investment for this culture was Rs.93,500 for the first culture. For further culturing there will not be any investment for the culture tanks and other facilities required for the culture. Further standardisation of the culture technique would pave the way for sustainable eco-friendly aquaculture which would be highly beneficial for the aqua farmers and the consumers.