Effect of salinity on growth of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) in aquaponic system using inland saline groundwater. (22nd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomas, Ritty Maria; Verma, Ajit Kumar; Krishna, Hari; Prakash, Satya; Kumar, Ashok; Peter, Roshan Maria
• Is Part Of: Aquaculture research. Volume 52:Number 12(2021)
• Page Start: 6288
• Page End: 6298
• Publication Date: 2021-07-22
• Subjects: aquaponics -- inland saline groundwater -- Nile tilapia -- salinity -- spinach; Aquaculture -- Periodicals; Fishery management -- Periodicals; 639.8
• DOI: 10.1111/are.15492
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-557X

Abstract

Abstract: This study was carried out to find suitable salinity for the best growth performance and survival of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) with spinach ( Spinacia oleracea) in an aquaponic system. The experimental design consisted of inland saline groundwater with salinities 3, 6 and 9 g L −1 as treatments and freshwater as control, carried out in 12 identical aquaponics units with fish stocked at a biomass 1.3 kg m −3 and plants at a density 40 m −2 . Nile tilapia reared at salinities 9, 6 and 3 g L −1 showed significantly higher ( p < 0.05) feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio compared to freshwater. The feed conversion ratio of fish at salinities 9, 6 and 3 g L −1 ranged between 1.31–1.43 and significantly differed from control. Final mean biomass were statistically similar at 9 g L −1 (5 kg m −3 ), 6 g L −1 (4.92 kg m −3 ) and 3 g L −1 (4.68 kg m −3 ). Survival of O . niloticus was 100% in all the salinities tested. Spinach was harvested twice during the study, in the first harvest the yield was observed higher in freshwater followed by 3, 6 and 9 g L −1, but in the second harvest, the higher yield was observed in 9 g L −1 followed by 6 g L −1, 3 g L −1 and freshwater. Based on the overall production performance and water quality parameters, a salinity of 9 g L −1 was found to be the best for the integration of Nile tilapia and Spinach in an aquaponic system.