Effect of Bivalves on Water Quality, Microbial Load and Growth Performance of P. vannamei and M. cephalus in Halophyte-based Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture Reared under Pond Conditions

Abstract

Background: IMTA is an integrated and eco-friendly farming approach, where organisms from different trophic levels can be cultured in the same system to take advantage of the synergistic interaction between species. Methods: The experiment was conducted in earthen ponds for four months to investigate the effect of bivalves (M. casta) in halophyte-based IMTA on water quality, growth performance and microbial load. Shrimp and fish were fed with commercial feed containing 35% and 30% crude protein, respectively. Result: The total ammonia nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen and nitrite were comparatively low in treatments, T1 (0.13±0.012, 0.013±0.003 and 0.45±0.01, respectively) and T2 (0.15±0.005, 0.017±0.003 and 0.50±0.01, respectively). Similarly, the better average body weight, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio were found in treatments, T1 (Shrimp: 33.87±0.88 g, 6.20±0.01% 1.10±0.02 respectively, Fish: 94.18±0.08 g, 1.59±0.001% and 1.60±0.006 respectively) and T2 (Shrimp: 32.37±0.60 g, 6.16±0.02 % and 1.15±0.02 respectively fish: 92.91±0.2 g, 1.59±0.009 and 1.63±0.08 respectively). Therefore it can be concluded that the use of bivalves helps to create better water quality for the growth and survival of P. vannamei and M. cephalus in halophyte-based integrated multi-trophic aquaculture.