Potentialities of the Asian Watergrass (Hygroryza aristata) as Feed in Aquaculture

Abstract

Asian watergrass (Hygroryza aristata) is an herbaceous glabrous aquatic-rooted floating grass naturally growing in the tidally inundated coastal marshes, beels and canals. The ecology and growth performance of Asian watergrass were evaluated in the coastal wetland (CWL), in an artificially created canal (ACC) within the coastal wetland and in the university research ponds (URP). The study was conducted with three replications in each area. The proximate compositions of the leaves, roots and stems of the grass were determined. Important water and soil quality parameters were found favorable for the growth and production of Asian watergrass. The growth performance and total production of the grass were significantly higher in ACC (length: 2.78 m and weight: 386.86 metric ton ha−1) in comparison with those in CWL (2.36 m and 256.67 metric ton ha−1) and URP (2.22 m and 137.10 metric ton ha−1). Higher content of crude protein was found in leaves (17.49%) followed by roots (12.17%) and stems (9.39%), while the minerals (ash) and fiber contents were found higher in stems (25.68% and 9.53%) in comparison with those in leaves and roots. The findings indicate that the coastal wetlands of Bangladesh having available nutrients in both water and soil are suitable for higher growth and production of Asian watergrass. Considering the nutrient compositions, the Asian watergrass may be an important potential source of feed ingredient that may be used as fish feed in aquaculture throughout the world.