Int.J. BioRes.

6 (6): 53-60

June, 2009

Sharmeen and Hossain

PRESENT STATUS OF CULTURE MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION STATUS IN VARIOUS LEASED OUT FISH PONDS OF RAJSHAHI CITY CORPORATION
1

Sharmeen, R. and 2M. Belal Hossain

1. Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh 2. Lecturer, Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology, University, Sonapur, Noakhali-3802, Bangladesh. Corresponding Authors email: belalhossian@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out on 20 sampling ponds at Rajshahi City Corporation during the period from August, 2004 to April, 2005. Pre-stocking, stocking and post-stocking management were taken into consideration. Pre-stocking management include removable of predatory and weed fishes, liming and use of fertilizers. Several species of fishes were stocked at different densities in the ponds. Three groups of fish seeds, namely sac fry/spawn, fry and fingerlings were stocked in the ponds. Sac fry were stocked in 4 ponds, fry in 2 ponds and fingerlings in the remaining 14 ponds at different combination. In post stocking management fertilizers were used daily, weekly and monthly. Supplementary feeds of different variety were applied daily and on weekly basis. Gross production of fry, fingerlings and marketable fishes were 2337.0296.97 kg/ha/yr, 6065.79849.7 kg/ha/yr and 4774.987115.36 kg/ha/yr respectively. Stocking of wild fry should be avoided. Farmers should focus more on following the scientific culture management. In winter feeding rate should be 1-2% of body weight. Partial harvest and restocking should be done in order to increasing production.

Key word: Fish seeds, culture management, supplementary feeds, fish production.

INTRODUCTION The geographical position and environmental condition of Bangladesh is very suitable for fish culture. Despite the enriched fish fauna, the increasing demand of fish is not possible to fulfill for the growing population of the country by capturing fish from the nature only. In this situation emphasis should be given in the field of semiintensive culture technique or an improved traditional culture method. Ameen et al. (1983) reported 2305 kg/ha/yr production of carps from semi-intensive ponds. Like other area in the country, the Rajshahi City Corporation has several hundred ponds and ditches of various sizes. For the last decades these are used as either rearing or stocking ponds for pisciculture. Ponds are the most important yielding fields for aquatic life. The fish farmers of Bangladesh mostly follow the traditional carp culture methods. However, a number of pond owners are now trying to improve the traditional culture method by fertilizing the waterbodies. Post-stocking management has been producing higher quantity of fishes (Alikunhi et al. 1971, Singh et al. 1975, Dinesh et al. 1986, Uddin et al. 1988). The present work was aimed to find out the culture management and production status of fish ponds within the Rajshahi City Corporation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted on 20 ponds belonging to 11 growers within Rajshahi City Corporation. For collecting data on various aspects of culture management and fish production status three methods were used- interview,

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photograph and direct observation. For collecting data both individual and group interviews were conducted. In most of the cases, a range of PRA tools were applied with different degree of effectiveness of the farmers information. The data were collected fortnightly from August, 2004 to April, 2005. All the collected information were accumulated and analyzed and then presented in textual, tabular and graphical forms to understand the culture management and production status of the studied ponds. RESULT AND DISCUSSION Out of the 20 sampling ponds 18 were perennial and 2 were seasonal ponds. Among these 20 ponds 4 were nursery ponds, 2 were rearing and 14 were stocking ponds. Pre-stocking management Aquatic weeds were removed by mechanical method in most of the ponds during the prestocking management. Hand scythe was used to remove aquatic weeds. Pesticides were used in 14 ponds for removing unwanted and predatory fishes, while 6 pond owners used only netting method. Quick fume was the most used pesticide (12 ponds) and second largely (6 ponds) was Sumithion (Table-1). Quick fumes were tablets that were applied at the rate of 1897.79 tablets /ha /yr. Alikunhi (1957) reported that rotenone was the safe insecticide and the safe concentrations of up to 20 ppm and under tropical temperatures the toxicity continued from 8-12 days. Lime was applied in 18 ponds during prestocking management and the mean amount was 311.40 kg /ha /yr (Table-1). Cowdung was the most common organic fertilizer (15 ponds) used during prestocking management at the rate of 1669.82 kg/ha/yr (Table-1). Among the inorganic fertilizers urea (16 ponds) was used at the rate of 320.22 kg/ha/yr and triple super phosphate (TSP) (14 ponds) 196.67 kg/ha/yr (Table-1). Murite of potash (MP) was used in only 1 pond at the rate of 7.49 kg/ha/yr (Table-1).

Table1. Quantity of pesticide, lime and fertilizers used during pond preparation. Inputs Type Quick fume (Tab/ha/yr) Rotenone (kg/ha/yr) Sumithion (ml/ha/yr) Nogos (ml/ha/yr) No. of ponds 12 1 6 1 18 Cowdung (kg/ha/yr) Urea (kg/ha/yr) TSP (kg/ha/yr) MP (kg/ha/yr) 15 16 14 1 Minimum 1575 5.62 750.50 2500.00 51.28 242.42 151.52 100 7.49 Maximum 2909.1 5.62 750.50 2500.00 655.43 7125.70 751.88 375.94 7.49 MeanSD 1897.79986.85 5.620 750.500 2500.000 311.40 148.37 1669.82 1597.82 320.22 146.18 196.67 60.25 7.490

Pesticides

Lime (kg/ha/yr) Organic fertilizer

Inorganic fertilizers

Wahab et al. (1994) reported the composite culture of Indian major carps, where the ponds were fertilized with cowdung 1.4 kg/dec + urea 0.03 kg/dec + TSP 0.02 kg/dec daily; cowdung 10.3 kg/dec + urea 0.2 kg/dec + TSP

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0.2 kg/dec weekly and cowdung 22.2 kg/dec + urea 0.5 kg/dec + TSP 0.4 kg/dec fortnightly. The yields of different species of fishes in different treatment were 7.5 kg/dec; 6.8 kg/dec and 6.5 kg/dec respectively. Stocking management Different species of fishes and shell fishes were stocked in the ponds, such as rui (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla), mrigal (Cirrhina mrigala), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio var. specularis), common carp (Cyprinus carpio var. communis), black carp (Mylopharyngodon pisceum), sarpunti (Puntius gonionotus), ilishbata and prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). Three groups of fish seed was stocked in different sampling ponds, which were sac fry / spawn, fry and fingerlings. Group-I consisted of sac fry / spawn, which were found in 4 nursery ponds. First preferred species was rui (18%) and catla (18%), second was mrigal (16%) and silver carp (16%) (Fig 1).

sarpunti 7% grasscarp 10%

rui 18%

bigheadcarp 15% catla 18%

silvercarp 16%

mrigal 16%

Fig 1. Showing stocking combination of sac fry in four nursery pond (Group I)

Group-II consisted of fry, which was found in 2 rearing ponds, and first preferred species was rui (20%) and catla (20%), second was mrigal (15%) and silver carp (15%) (Fig 2).

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Sharmeen and Hossain

sarpunti 8% grasscarp 10% rui 20%

bigheadcarp 12%

catla 20%

silvercarp 15% mrigal 15%

Fig 2. Showing stocking combination of fry in two rearing ponds (Group-II).

Group-III consisted of fingerlings, which were found in 14 ponds (Fig. 3). Stocking percentage (%) was different in the 14 ponds and 12 types of stocking combination were found. Stocking percentage ratio of type-I was rui : catla : mrigal : silver carp : bighead carp : grass carp : sarpunti were 29.61 : 29.61 : 11.84 : 19.74 : 2.63 : 0.66 : 5.92. The stocking percentage (%) ratios of type-II was rui : catla : silver carp : mirror carp : sac fry from river of miscellaneous species were 33.80 : 21.03 : 27.04 : 18.02 : 0.11. Stocking percentage (%) ratios of typeIII was rui: catla: mrigal : sarpunti were 30.72 : 27.31 : 21.50 : 20.48. The stocking percentage (%) ratios of type-IV was rui : catla : mrigal : silver carp : grass carp : bighead carp : mirror carp were 34.67 : 7.43 : 34.67 : 9.29 : 6.50 : 3.72 : 3.72. In case of type-V, the stocking percentage (%) ratios were rui : catla : mrigal : silver carp : grass carp : bighead carp : mirror carp : prawn = 30.43 : 6.52 : 30.43 : 8.15 : 5.71 : 3.26 : 3.26 : 12.25. The stocking percentage (%) ratios of type-VI were rui: catla: mrigal: silver carp were 4.11: 2.74: 4.11: 89.04. Again, the stocking percentage (%) ratios of type-VII were rui : catla : mrigal : silver carp : mirror carp : bighead carp : sarpunti were 21.87 : 16.88 : 21.87 : 10 : 9.38 : 7.50 : 12.50. In type-VIII, the stocking percentage (%) ratios were rui : catla : mrigal : mirror carp : silver carp : grass carp : sarpunti : ilishbata : common carp were 15.63 : 12.50 : 25.00 : 6.25 : 31.25 : 0.63 : 1.25 : 1.25 : 6.25. The stocking percentage (%) ratios of type-IX were rui : catla : mrigal : silver carp : mirror carp : sarpunti were 15.63 : 6.25 : 31.25 : 31.25 : 12.5 : 3.13. The stocking percentage (%) ratios of type-X were rui: catla : mrigal : silver carp were 17.78 : 38.89 : 15.56 : 27.78. In type-XI, the stocking percentage (%) ratios were rui : catla : mrigal : silver carp : common carp : sarpunti were 48.54 : 1.94 : 19.42 : 5.83 : 4.85 : 19.42. The stocking percentage (%) ratios of type-XII were rui : catla : mrigal : silver carp : bighead carp : grass carp : black carp : sarpunti were 30.98 : 15.49 : 18.59 : 10.65 : 6.78 : 6.10 : 0.08 : 11.33.

Hossain et al. (1997) performed an experiment on composite fish culture using silver carp (H. molitrix) alone with Indian major carps (Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhina mrigala) in combination I (silver carp : catla :

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rui : mrigal = 25 : 25 : 30 : 20) and only Indian major carps in another combination II (catla : rui : mrigal = 50 : 30 : 20). Fingerlings were stocked at a rate of 30/dec and the ponds were fertilized with cowdung, murite of Potash (MP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) at one month interval in aqua production at the rate of 0.3 kg/dec. The fish production in combination I (12.2 kg/dec) was higher than that in combination II (11.4 kg/dec) results in the 13.765% higher net profit. Shafi (2003) recommended that for composite culture of six major carps i.e. catla, rui, mrigal, silver carp, grass carp and common carp, the ideal ratio of combination is 2.5 : 5 : 2 : 5 : 2 : 2.5. Chowdhury et al. (1978) reported fish production by application of composite fish culture technology in ponds with a high stocking density of 53.92 fingerlings/dec. The ponds recorded average gross and net production of 30.0 kg/dec/yr and 30.14 kg/dec/yr, respectively, which was about 7 times the normal production of around 4.04 kg/dec/yr reported by the ordinary fish farms.

rui mrigal bigheadcarp sarpunti prawn commoncarp

catla silvercarp grasscarp mirrorcarp ilishbata miscellaneous sp. black carp

100%

90%

Relative density (%) of different culturable species

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Pond number

Fig 3. Showing stocking combination of fourteen stocking ponds (Group III).

Post stocking management Among the inorganic fertilizers TSP was the most commonly used (9 ponds) fertilizer and second largely used was Urea (8 ponds). MP (murite of potash) was only used in one pond at the rate of 52.43 kg/ha/yr. Among the organic fertilizer cowdung was the most popular organic fertilizer (12 ponds) which was used at the rate of

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4431.14 kg/ha/yr during post stocking management. Poultry manure was only used in 2 ponds at the rate of 3018.75 kg/ha/yr (Table-2). Table 2. Fertilizers and supplementary feeds used during post stocking management and maintenance. Inputs Type Urea (kg/ha/yr) Inorganic Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) (kg/ha/yr) Murate of Potash (MP) (kg/ha/yr) Cowdung (kg/ha/yr) Organic Poultry manure (kg/ha/yr) Mustard oilcake (kg/ha/yr) Rice bran (fine) (kg/ha/yr) Rice bran (coarse) (kg/ha/yr) Wheat bran (kg/ha/yr) Wheat flour (kg/ha/yr) Supplementary Maize (kg/ha/yr) feeds Maize flour (kg/ha/yr) Mashkalai (kg/ha/yr) Rice flour (kg/ha/yr) Coconut oilcake (kg/ha/yr) Vitamin (kg/ha/yr) Fishmeal (kg/ha/yr) 2 14 5 4 4 9 1 3 3 3 2 3 2 2187.50 62.50 481.25 212.12 106.06 224.60 106.06 224.60 224.60 224.60 1200.00 16.84 225.00 3850.00 2940.00 6176.47 750.00 3880.15 2250.00 106.06 224.60 224.60 224.60 1200.00 16.84 225.00 3018.75 1175.57 922.45 829.23 3914.95 3096.85 592.09 257.14 1336.89 1741.57 1130.42 1062.17 106.06 0 224.60 0 224.60 0 224.60 0 1200.00 0 16.84 0 225.00 0 No. of ponds 8 9 1 12 Minimum 107.69 62.50 52.43 1250.00 Maximum 4511.28 3500.00 52.43 8400.00 MeanSD 1153.58 1483.93 933.71 1225.83 52.43 0 4431.14 2685.55

Urea, TSP and MP were used at an average rate of 1153.58 kg/ha/yr, 933.71 kg/ha/yr and 52.43 kg/ha/yr orderly (Table-2). A heavy dose of super phosphate (180 kg/ha) results in fish yield high enough for profit, the most efficient and economical dose is 40 kg/ha (Lin and Chen, 1967). A number of pond owners are now trying to improve the traditional culture method by fertilizing the water bodies by supplementary feeding of fishes. Post stocking management has been producing higher quantity of fish (Dinesh et al., 1986). Saha et al. (1975) reported that nitrogen fertilizer increased fish production. Poultry manure in combination with cowdung reduces mortality of spawn and increases their growth (Banerjee et al., 1969). In the present survey, mustard oilcake was most preferred by the fish farmers and used in 14 ponds at the rate of 922.45 kg/ha/yr. The second most used was the wheat flour (9 ponds) and then rice bran (fine) which was used

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in 5 ponds at the rate of 1130.42 kg/ha/yr and 3914.95 kg/ha/yr respectively. Maize was only used in one pond at the rate of 106.06 kg/ha/yr. Besides, mashkalai, coconut oilcake and vitamins, fishmeals were also notable among the supplementary feeds used in 2-3 ponds (Table 2). Murty et al. (1978) conducted an experiment on composite fish culture with or without supplementary feeds. The yields of fish obtained through fertilization was 9.19 kg/dec/yr as against 15.6 kg/dec/yr growth with supplementary feed. They studied composite fish culture at Kalyani West Bengal in a pond having an area of 17.12 kg/dec/yr with water depth of 46-92 cm. A gross production of 13 kg/6 months was obtained. The ponds were stocked with catla, silver carp, rui, grass carp and common carp. Supplementary feeds were used in almost all ponds. According to Khan and Jhingran (1975) artificial feeding also modifies the soil and water quality along with increment of growth in fishes. The average total gross production of marketable fish was 4774.98 kg/ha/yr from 14 ponds. Siddiqui (2001) reported that the gross production of fish was 10000 kg/ha/yr from mixed culture. In the present study, mean highest production was observed with silver carp (1952.04 kg/ha/yr), second highest was common carp (1951.97 kg/ha/yr) and thirdly rui (909.46 kg/ha/yr) (Table-3). Total gross production of 15 days old fry was 2337.02 kg/ha/yr in the 4 nursery ponds (Table-4). Again, total gross production of fingerlings was 6065.79 kg/ha/yr in 2 rearing ponds. Table 3: Gross production of marketable fishes (kg/ha/yr). Species No. of ponds Minimum Rui 14 115.38 Catla 14 105.26 Mrigal 13 66.67 Silver carp 13 120.30 Bighead carp 6 120.00 Grass carp 7 22.11 Mirror carp 6 90.23 Common carp 2 1091.44 Sarpunti 7 33.18 Ilishbata 1 38.29 Prawn 1 162.50 Miscellaneous 9 15.04 species Total 14 4513.00 production Table 4: Gross production of fry (15 days old) (kg/ha/yr). Species Rui Catla Mrigal Silver carp Bighead carp Grass carp Sarpunti Total production No. of ponds 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Minimum 393.75 393.75 365.36 365.36 325.37 250.91 168.75 2250.05 Maximum 3638.13 2812.50 3750.00 12500.00 233.96 252.67 2187.50 2812.50 2812.50 38.29 162.50 300.00 27212.50 MeanSD 909.461044.11 532.75683.29 686.06994.91 1952.043424.17 166.9041.32 169.9886.76 778.071021.02 1951.971216.97 513.311019.85 38.290 162.500 79.33107.03 4774.987115.36

Maximum 450.21 450.21 370.50 370.50 350.35 325.00 195.85 2467.62

MeanSD 413.8425.25 411.3426.12 367.262.37 367.292.37 339.4010.73 282.9030.86 179.8212.62 2337.0296.97

Table 5: Gross production of fingerling (kg/ha/yr). Species Rui Catla No. of ponds 2 2 Minimum 966.73 966.73 Maximum 1333.33 1333.33 MeanSD 1150.03259.23 1150.03259.23

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Mrigal Silver carp Bighead carp Grass carp Sarpunti Total production 2 2 2 2 2 2

June, 2009
850.00 850.00 750.63 590.87 490.00 5464.96 1000.00 1000.00 833.30 666.66 500.00 6666.62

Sharmeen and Hossain

925.0106.07 925.0106.07 791.9758.46 628.7753.59 495.007.07 6065.79849.70

Pillay (1990) mentioned that annual yield per varies between farmers and regions, from 310 kg/ha in extensive farming to about 3,000 kg/ha or more in semi-intensive farming system. Yadav (1997) observed that the average yield of both indigenous major carps and exotic carps culture together has been estimated to be 8000 kg/ha annually.

The present study clearly indicates that fish farmers in the Rajshahi City Corporation are showing more or less good production. Although culture management is not properly followed in all the sampling ponds, some benefits are received by the growers. Most of the fishermen were using pesticides, inorganic and organic fertilizers and supplementary feeds. In order to increase production fish farmers were applying large amount of inputs. They need to follow the scientific methods and proper doses of inputs in their ponds otherwise their ponds would be subject to eutrophication in near future, which is associated with several problems. Some pond owners were seen to stock wild fry (fry collected from natural source). Such approach should be avoided, because such stock consists of predatory and other undesirable species. In order to increase production, farmers should focus more on following the scientific culture management. Supplementary feeds should be given at the rate of 3-5% of fish body weight daily. Fishes feed comparatively less in winter. So, in the winter the rate should be 1-2% of fish body weight. Cowdung, urea and TSP should be applied at the rate of 150-200 g/daily, 3-5 g/daily and 1-2 g/daily respectively. Partial harvesting is another important step in increasing production. According to fisheries scientists, carrying capacity of 1 bigha carp culture pond is 224 kg. So, any amount more than 224 kg/bigha should be harvested and then the remaining fishes will have more chance to grow. The stocking of fry should be similar to the catching number. This harvesting and stocking process increases production.

REFERENCES Alikunhi, K. H. 1957. Fish culture in India. Farm Bull. 20: ICAR, New Delhi. Alikunhi, K. H., Sukumaran, K. K. and Parmeswaran, S. 1971. Studies on composite fish culture: Production by compatible combinations of Indian and Chinese carps. J. Ind. Fish. Assoc. 1(1): 26-57. Ameen, M., Ali, S., Begum, Z. N., Munyem, F. M. A., Rahman, M., Roy, T., Ahmed, N., Bhuiyan, A. R. and Davis, C. H. 1983. Traditional versus semi-intensive fish culture in ponds remarkable difference in fish culture production. Proc. 4th seminar : Maximum livestock production from minimum land. BAU, Mymensingh. 106-110pp. Banerjee, R. K., Singit, G. S. and Ray, P. 1969. Some observations on the use of poultry manure as fertilizer in rearing major carp fry. Ind. J. Fish. 16(1&2): 29-34. Chowdhury, H. N., Rao, G. S., Shah, G. N., Rout, M. and Ranaujia, D. R. 1978. Record of fish production through intensive fish culture in a farmers pond. J. Inland Fish. Soc. India. 10: 19-27.

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Dinesh, K. R., Varghese, J. J. and Nandeesha, M. C. 1986. Effects of a combination of poultry manure and varying doses of urea on the growth and survival of cultured carps. In: J. L. Maclean, L. B. Dizon and L. V. Hosillos (eds.). The First Asian Fisheries Forum. Asian Fish. Soc., Manila, Philippines. 565568pp. Hossain, M. A., Toyub, M. A., Islam, M. N. and Hasan, M. R. 1997. Effect of species combination on the growth of major and Chinese carps in demonstration ponds under Feni district. Bangladesh J. Agricult. Sci. 21(2): 257-266. Khan, H. A. and Jhingran, V. G. 1975. Synopsis of biological data on rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1882). FAO Synop. (III): 100p. Lin, S. Y. and Chen, T. P. 1967. Increase of production in freshwater fish ponds by the use of inorganic fertilizers. FAO Fish Report. 44(3): 210-225. Murty, D. S., Selvary, G. N., Paddy, R. V. G. K. and Dey, R. K. 1978. Studied in reused fish production in composite culture through nitrogenous fertilizers with or without supplementary feeding. J. Inland Fish. Soc. 10: 39-45. Pillay, T. V. R. 1990. Aquaculture Principles and Practices. Fishing News Books. 360p. Saha, G. N., Rahman, K., Chaterjee, D. K. and Ghosh, S. R. 1975. Response of the three nitrogenous fertilizers in different pond soils in relation to primary productivity, plankton and survival and growth of Labeo rohita spawn. J. Inland Fish. Soc. India. 7: 162-172. Shafi, S. M. 2003. Applied Fishery Science. Atlantic Publishers and Distributors. New Delhi. 180p. Siddiqui, I. R. 2001. Notun Niyame Maccher Chas O Utpadon Padhoti. Salahuddin Bai Ghar, Dhaka. 80p. Singh, C. S. and Singh, K. P. 1975. Feeding experiments on Indian major carps in Tarai ponds. J. Inland Fish. Soc. India. 7: 212-215. Uddin, M. S., Gupta, M. V. and Barua, G. 1988. Effects of fertilizers on the growth and survival of rui (Labeo rohita) spawn in nurnsery ponds. Bangladesh J. Fish. 11(1): 83-88pp. Wahab, M. A., Ahmed, Z. F., Haq, M. S. and Begum, M. 1994. Compatibility of Silver carp in the polyculture of cyprinid fishes. Progress. Agric. 5(2): 221-227. Yadav, B. N. 1997. Fish and Fisheries. Daya Publishing House, Delhi. 257p.