Comparison of the Growth and Production of Carps in Polyculture Ponds with Supplemental Feed using Rice Straw and Kanchi as Substrates

An experiment was carried to compare the performance of rice straw and kanchi in carp polyculture ponds with supplemental feed. The experiment included two treatments in triplicates: a) rice straw substrate (3x625 kgha -1 ) with supplemental feeding and b) kanchi substrate (390 kanchi pond -1 ) with supplemental feeding. Fingerlings (n=40) of rohu, Labeo rohita (23.3±0.5 g), catla, Catla catla (26.0±0.6 g), mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala (25.4±0.7 g), common carp, Cyprinus carpio (28.5±1.9 g) and silver carp, Hypophthalmychthys molitrix (32.1±1.3 g) were stocked at 3:2:2:2:1 ratio. Fish growth and weight gains did not vary between the rice straw and the kanchi treatment except in catla (P>0.05). Daily and total weight gains of catla was 48 and 32% higher in the kanchi treatment than in the rice straw treatment (P<0.05). However, the rice straw treatment gave more profit than the kanchi treatment. Based on fish production and gross margin, the rice straw treatment seems better for resource-poor farmers. DOI: 10.3126/on.v8i1.4316