Effects of poultry droppings on water quality, growth performance, feed utilization, and survival of Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822) under a vertical integrated fish-poultry farming system

Abstract

The present study investigated the influence of poultry droppings on water quality, growth performance, feed utilization, and survival of Cirrhinus mrigala fry under an integrated fish-poultry farming system. A poultry-manured treatment tank and a non-manured control tank were compared over the course of the 75-day experiment. Over the course of the experiment, water quality parameters stayed within the acceptable range for carp culture. The water's pH ranged from 7.93±0.08 to 8.64±0.15, and its temperature ranged from 27.72±0.09 °C to 29.90±0.00 °C. Increased nutrient availability in the integrated system was indicated by electrical conductivity (873.66±47.34 to 933.66±32.96 µS/cm) and total dissolved solids (511.33±19.09 to 572.96±26.24 mg/L). Growth performance of C. mrigala fry was significantly higher in the treatment group. In the treatment group, weight gain (%) varied from 6.72±1.14 to 48.78±9.47, while in the control group, it ranged from 6.86±3.49 to 26.18±2.72. The treatment showed the highest specific growth rate (SGR) of 2.62±0.41, whereas the control showed 1.54±0.14. With a lower feed conversion ratio (1.64±0.29) and higher protein and lipid efficiency ratios than the control, the integrated system demonstrated improved feed utilization. Both groups had comparable and high survival rates—above 92%. According to the study's findings, integrated fish-poultry farming has the potential to be a sustainable aquaculture method since it increases pond productivity and greatly improves the growth and feed efficiency of C. mrigala fry without adversely affecting survival.