Effects of using Azolla (Azolla microphylla) to feed Thai silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus) in organic rice fields
Keywords:
Azolla (Azolla microphylla), Thai silver barb, Organic riceAbstract
This research aimed to study the effects of using Azolla (Azolla microphylla) in combination with organic fish feed in the cultivation of Thai Silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus) in an organic rice field system. The experiment was conducted at the Fisheries Farm, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Surin Campus, over a period of 120 days. The experiment was divided into four treatment groups: 1) rice cultivation only, 2) fish fed exclusively with Azolla, 3) fish fed with a combination of Azolla and organic fish feed, and 4) fish fed exclusively with organic fish feed. Results showed that groups 4 had the highest average weight of 57.94±13.07 grams per fish, while groups 3 achieved 55.36±12.34 grams, with no significant difference between these two groups. However, both groups 3 and 4 showed statistically significant differences (p< 0.05) compared to groups 2, which had the lowest weight of 44.96±8.23 grams. Similarly, groups 4 exhibited the greatest length of 16.14±1.29 cm, followed by groups 3 (16.01±1.07 cm), with no significant difference between them but both group 3 and 4 were significantly different (p<0.05) from groups 2 which had the smallest length of 14.89±0.97 cm. Other growth parameters followed similar trends, with groups 3 and 4 demonstrating better Specific Growth Rate (SGR) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) than groups 2 with statistical significance (p<0.05). Groups 4 achieved the highest SGR of 1.63%/day and the lowest FCR of 1.43, indicating efficient feed conversion to biomass. Fulton’s condition index (K) and survival rates showed no significant differences across all groups (p>0.05), with K values ranging from 1.35 to 1.38 and survival rates exceeding 92%, indicating the suitability of the organic rice field environment for fish rearing.
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