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Type : Other Article

Role of Ducks in Improving the Nutrient Levels in Fish Pond Ecosystem in Tarjhunga Village, Chhattisgarh State

J. Yaswanth Kumar, M.S. Chari and H.K. Vardia

Abstract

In the present study two ponds were selected, one pond treated with ducks (T2) and another pond treated without ducks (T1). The ponds are located at Tarjhunga village of Raipur district in Chhattisgarh state. The ponds were stocked with fingerlings of Indian Major Carps (Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala at the ratio of 3:3:4) at stocking density of 6000 ha-1. Duck rearing was done under scavenging mode. Major feed of the ducks was   the ponds consisting of insects, leeches, snails and other bottom detritus plant and animal material. The mean loading rate of duck manure was estimated at 5.27 kg dry wt. 2.2 ha-1 day-1 in the pond treated with ducks. Corresponding loading rates of nutrients were 0.05, 0.03 and 0.02 kg ha-1 day-1 for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium respectively. The proximate composition of N: P ratio was approximately 1.7:1. The weight gain of fish was significantly higher in treatment under integrated system than in the control. Better growth and maximum survival contributed to a yield of 2029.57 kg/ha by raising of ducks in T2. Poor yield was observed in T1 i.e.1286.68 kg/ha. The cost of production per kg was found to be Rs. 7.29, Rs. 4.82 for T1 (Control), T2 (Ducks) respectively. The benefit : cost ratio in case of integration of duck with fish was found to be that 3.49 : 1 which was much more profitable to farmers than in case of fish culture without ducks was found to be at 2.74 : 1 under village conditions of Chhattisgarh.

Keyword: Integration; Ducks; Nutrients

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