Is individual or combination of three Indian major carps (Catla catla, Labeo rohita, and Cirrhinus mrigala) preferable secondary co-species in semi-intensive polyculture with pabda (Ompok bimaculatus)?
摘要
This study evaluated the bio-economic performance of pabda (Ompok bimaculatus) monoculture and four pabda-Indian major carp polyculture combinations over a 7-month trial (late August to mid-March). The experiment was conducted in earthen-based cement tanks under semi-intensive culture conditions. Treatments included pabda monoculture (P), pabda-catla (PC), pabda-rohu (PR), pabda-mrigal (PM), and pabda with a combination of all three IMCs (1:1:1 ratio) (PCRM). Pabda were stocked at 30,000 ha−1 and IMCs at 4500 ha−1 in all treatments. Two extruded feeds were used: a 35% crude protein sinking feed for pabda (1–4% biomass daily) and a 20% CP floating feed for IMCs (1–4% biomass daily). While pabda growth did not differ significantly among treatments, IMCs showed variations with significantly high final weight and daily growth rate for catla in PCRM compared to that of mrigal in PM or PCRM, respectively. No significant variations in growth of IMC were noted among other treatments. Treatments PR and PCRM yielded significantly higher net fish production, final biomass, and net biomass gain compared to PM, and P. Feed utilization and water quality parameters remained statistically similar across treatments. Notably, PR and PCRM generated 144–165% higher net returns than P and PM (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates the significant bio-economic advantages of polyculture of pabda with rohu, catla, or a combination of all three IMCs.