Feeding management and waste production in semi-intensive farming of penaeus monodon (fab.) at different stocking densities

Abstract

Studies on waste production and feeding management of Penaeus monodon in semi-intensive culture system were carried out for four successive crops at a commercial farm (M/S Suryo Udyog Ltd.) at Chandipur Coast of Orissa, India, at six different stocking densities. The prescribed feeding programme of C.P. Group, Thailand (NOVO-shrimp feed) were adopted and standardized during first two crops and the standardized feeding scheme was evaluated in the last two crops. Influence of standardized feeding programme on average feed conversion ratio (FCR) of P. monodon was highly significant (p < 0.001) against that of manufacturer’s (NOVO-feed) prescribed feeding programme. A feeding frequency of more than four times a day showed no improvement in growth rate and there was no change in diurnal feeding habit probably due to the fact that, in scientific farming, aquatic environment is artificially controlled. It was also observed that, as the age and weight of shrimp increases, feed % decreases from 8.8 to 1.9% and lift net (LN)% increases from 2.4 to 4.3% for 1–40 g mean body weight of P. monodon respectively. The higher the stocking density, the higher was the FCR and sedimentation rate. In the present experiment, the sedimentation rate was estimated to be 49.5 m3 (dry volume)/1000.0 kg of shrimp biomass. The average quantity of waste matter production was only 571.4 kg of organic matter, 10.21 kg of nitrogen and 0.527 kg of phosphorus at an average FCR of 1.437 and stocking density of 22.5 pcs m-2 during the four crop experimental period.