Evaluation of the Growth Performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) in Two Feed Regimes and Rice Output in an Integrated Rice-Fish Farming System in Suakoko, Bong County, Liberia

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the yield of two rice cultivars (Suakoko 8 and Nerica L19) and the growth of mono-sex tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in an integrated rice-fish farming system. The profitability of the fish-rice integrated system, percent survival and condition factor of the fish was also assessed. The study was conducted using a randomized block design with five treatments and three replicates. The culture pond was fertilized by application of cow manure at a rate of 4.5 kg / plot across the entire five (5) treatment blocks containing 15 experimental plots. Each plot measured 3 m x 3 m; and fish were stocked at a rate of four fish per square meter. Rice seedlings were planted at 0.2 m × 0.2 m spacing. Sixty-four (64) rice plants were initially planted in each plot. A twenty-one (21)-day-old seedling (rice) was used as planting material. The area containing the fish measured 1 m x 3 m and was 0.6 m deep, which served as a refuge pond for the fish. Fish were stocked at an average body weight of 5 g. Data on plant height, fish growth and yields, and water quality parameters were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and significant differences between treatments were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to test for differences in S8R, N19L, S8L, N19R, and S8 and the post hoc analysis were displayed using the Tukey HSD. S8 means Suakoko 8 and N19 means, New Rice for Africa variety 19 (N19). ―R‖ denotes that fish in those plots were fed Raanan feed and ―L‖ denotes that fish in those plots were fed the Local feed. The results show that treatments N19L and N19R had the best rice yield whilst treatment S8R had the best performance for fish growth. However, there were no significance difference in the weight gained of fish feed with Ranaan and those fed with the local feed (p>0.05). Overall, S8R obtained the profit margin of ($ 5,075), N19L ($ 5,949.82), S8L ($ 2,113.79), N19R ($ 9,205.83) and S8 ($ -3,938.15) per (ha) of cultivation – making N19R the most profitable rice-fish integrated aquaculture system.