Scholarlink

<p>Sustainable food production in sub-Saharan Africa demands innovative farming systems that make the most of limited water resources while improving productivity and farmer livelihoods. Integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA) presents a viable pathway, as it allows the recycling of nutrient-rich pond water for irrigating vegetables. This study evaluated the optimum Nile tilapia stocking density for increasing water use efficiency and profitability in fish-cabbage integrated farming systems in the northwest part of Ethiopia, to explore the interaction between fish density and water productivity. A total of 2700 mono-sex Nile tilapia fingerlings were stocked in lined earthen ponds at low (3 fish/m<sup>2</sup>), medium (5 fish/m<sup>2</sup>), and high (7 fish/m<sup>2</sup>) densities over 180&#xa0;days, while head cabbage (<i>Brassica oleracea</i>) was irrigated using pond water under chemical fertilizers and fish pond nutrient reuse. Findings revealed significant (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) improvements in fish growth, yield, and overall farm productivity across treatments, with high stocking density producing the best results. Compared to low density, high-density ponds yielded 192% more fish per hectare, 89% higher net income (USD/ha), and 67% greater water use efficiency (kg/m<sup>3</sup>). Similarly, cabbages irrigated with fish pond water outperformed conventional river-water irrigation, achieving 66% higher marketable yields, 66% higher water use efficiency, and up to 197% higher net income when combined with chemical fertilizers. Overall, integrated fish-cabbage farming proved highly resource-efficient, economically rewarding, and environmentally sustainable. Such integrated systems have strong policy and extension relevance in Ethiopia, promoting sustainable intensification, diversified incomes, and climate-resilient livelihoods for smallholder farmers.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Optimizing Nile tilapia stocking density for enhanced water use efficiency and profitability in fish-cabbage integrated farming systems in Northwest Ethiopia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月20日

查看全文
  • Negese Kebtieneh,
  • Akewake Geremew,
  • Alayu Yalew,
  • Belay Abdissa,
  • Gashaw Tilahun

摘要

Sustainable food production in sub-Saharan Africa demands innovative farming systems that make the most of limited water resources while improving productivity and farmer livelihoods. Integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA) presents a viable pathway, as it allows the recycling of nutrient-rich pond water for irrigating vegetables. This study evaluated the optimum Nile tilapia stocking density for increasing water use efficiency and profitability in fish-cabbage integrated farming systems in the northwest part of Ethiopia, to explore the interaction between fish density and water productivity. A total of 2700 mono-sex Nile tilapia fingerlings were stocked in lined earthen ponds at low (3 fish/m2), medium (5 fish/m2), and high (7 fish/m2) densities over 180 days, while head cabbage (Brassica oleracea) was irrigated using pond water under chemical fertilizers and fish pond nutrient reuse. Findings revealed significant (p < 0.05) improvements in fish growth, yield, and overall farm productivity across treatments, with high stocking density producing the best results. Compared to low density, high-density ponds yielded 192% more fish per hectare, 89% higher net income (USD/ha), and 67% greater water use efficiency (kg/m3). Similarly, cabbages irrigated with fish pond water outperformed conventional river-water irrigation, achieving 66% higher marketable yields, 66% higher water use efficiency, and up to 197% higher net income when combined with chemical fertilizers. Overall, integrated fish-cabbage farming proved highly resource-efficient, economically rewarding, and environmentally sustainable. Such integrated systems have strong policy and extension relevance in Ethiopia, promoting sustainable intensification, diversified incomes, and climate-resilient livelihoods for smallholder farmers.