EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTARY FEED ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF INDIAN MAJOR CARPS IN MICRO-WATER SHEDS

The present study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of Indian major carps fed with supplementary feed in four micro-water sheds of Rajasthan viz. Bhimsagar, Mohamed Falashiya, Baga-Ka-Naka and Har-Ka-Naka during February to May, 2016. The principal aim of the study was to assess the importance of supplementary feeding in culture-based fisheries. Unlike the pond or cage culture, supplementary feed is not supplied in micro-water sheds or culture-based fisheries system (CBFS). In Rajasthan, various number of micro-water sheds have been constructed primarily for the purpose of rain-water harvesting and for improving irrigation facilities. But nowadays these aquatic resources are being utilized for serving multi-activities viz. domestic uses and for capture-cum-culture fisheries etc. due to an increasing interest of local masses. Micro-water sheds are the most preferable water resources and are easily available with local tribes of this region for fish culture.

Supplementary feed @ 1% of body weight was given to fishes in two micro-water sheds Bhimsagar and Mohamed Falashiya while another two water sheds (Baga-Ka-Naka and Har-Ka-Naka) were treated as control (no supplementary feed). Physic-chemical parameters were monitored at regular interval & found to be non-significant between treatments and control. Physic-chemical parameters viz. water temperature, p^H, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, hardness, salinity, dissolved CO₂, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrate-nitrogen and orthophosphate were observed for four months study period and indicated that the water of these micro-water sheds remained congenial for the survival and growth of Indian major carps. A commercial floating feed (28% protein, 4% fat) was used to assess the fish growth performance in culture-based fishery. The supplementary feeding revealed significant impact on fish growth performance i.e. specific growth rate (SGR). Results indicated that the net weight gain and SGR were higher in Bhimsagar and Mohamed Falashiya as compared to Har-Ka-Naka and Baga-Ka-Naka. Therefore, it is recommended to use supplementary feed in culture-based fisheries for higher returns, based on the present study.