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Determine the Economic Feasibility of the Polyculture System (Giant Tiger

Shrimp and Mullet)

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-African Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences 2 (3-4): 124-127, 2010
ISSN 2079-2034
© IDOSI Publications, 2010

Determine the Economic Feasibility of the Polyculture System

(Giant Tiger Shrimp and Mullet)
1
S. Kotiya Anil, 2B. Gunalan, 3K.L. Jetani, 4G. Kuldeep Trivedi and 5P. Soundarapandian

1
Asst Research Scientist, Fisheries Research Station, J.A.U. Okha
2,5
Faculty of Marine Science, Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology,
Annamalai University, Parangiettai-608 502 TamilNadu, India
3
Research officer, Fisheries Research Station, J.A.U. Okha
4
S.R.F. Fisheries Research Station, J.A.U. Okha

Abstract: Aquatic plants and commercial species such as rabbit fish, mullet, grass carp and clam are good
candidates for polyculture. Mullet is a filter feeder, which usually swims near the top of the water in school and
eats the scum of the water surface. Mullet can thrive in both fresh and saltwater. The present experiment was
carried in the month of 24th May 2009 to 18th Oct 2009 in shrimp grow out ponds. The stocking density of
P. monodon was 5 no/ m2 in mono as well as polyculture ponds but additionally mullet were stocked in
polyculture @0.33 no /m2. There were no significant differences in pH, dissolved oxygen and nutrient
concentrations among the mono and polyculture ponds throughout the experiment. The aim of present
investigation is stocking with P. monodon with Mugil tade is a viable approach in terms of profit. Tiger shrimp
and mullet is quite suitable for polyculture. Growth rate of shrimp in polyculture pond is higher compared to
the growth rate of shrimp in monoculture pond.

Key words:

INTRODUCTION other species and thus increases the total fish yield per
unit area [1-3]. Since polyculture ponds are complex and
Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing industries not fully understood, we investigated the economic
around the world. Capture fisheries and aquaculture feasibility for the combinations of P. monodon with
supplied the world with about 106 million tones of food M. tade.
fish in 2004. Of this total, aquaculture accounted for
43 percent. There is an increasing demand for seafood in MATERIALS AND METHODS
international market and will continue to grow in future.
In India, commercial shrimp farming started gaining roots Experiments were carried out in shrimp grow out
only during the mid-eighties. It was a relatively late start ponds situated at North latitudes 22° 44’ and 22° 41’ and
in India; by this time, shrimp farming had reached peak in East longitudes 71° 00’ and 70° 52’ Patelwadi village of
most of the neighboring Asian countries, especially China Diu region, Saurashtra. Experiment was conducted in
and Taiwan. Shrimp culture in ponds has been one of the the month of 24th May 2009 to 18th Oct 2009 in ponds
major sources of livelihoods for the fish farmers whereas No. 1 & 2 of 0.8 hector WSA (water spread area) and one
shrimp disease is the most serious problem that the pond used as a reservoir. Water was pumped by 10 HP
farmers have been facing. The idea of polyculture is based motor. Pond preparation, addition of fertilizer and
on the principle that each species stocked has its own supplementary feeds were applied as per the standard.
feeding niche that of other species. Therefore, a more Seeds of P. monodon were purchased from commercial
complete use is made of the food resources and space hatchery whereas M. tade were collected from sea shore
available in polyculture than in monoculture. In some weighing 3.78 ± 12.58 g. M. tade were collected and
cases, one species enhances the food availability for acclimatized for a period of 10 days in a cement tank and

Corresponding Author: B. Gunalan, Faculty of Marine Science, Center of Advanced Study in Marine Biology,
Annamalai University, Parangipettai-608 502, Tamil Nadu, India, Tel: +04144-243223.
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 African J. of Basic & Appl. Sci., 2 (3-4): 124-127, 2010

were fed by rice bran, groundnut oil cake and fish meal biomass was calculated as per Chanratchakool et al. [6]
mixed powder (1:0.2:0.5). M. tade were stocked @ whereas M. tade growth assessment was once in a month.
2653 numbers in 0.8 ha grow out pond on 07 May Water quality parameters such as temperature (°C), pH
2009 without feeding had avg. wt 6.16 ± 0.49 g whereas and dissolved oxygen (mg/l) were measured as per
P. monodon seeds were stocked @ 40000 no per ha of Trivedy and Goel [6] whereas salinity (‰) as per
initial wt 0.05 ± 0.0 g in mono as well as polyculture Katznelson [7]. Estimation of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N)
ponds. P. monodon was fed by pelleted feed as per the ((mg/l) and total phosphate (PO4) ((mg/l) were as per
standardized technique. Trivedy and Goel [6] and Gupta [8] respectively. Ammonia
was determined as described by Allan, et al. [9].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Prawns, crabs, milkfish and mullets are commonly

cultured together in combinations of two, three or four
species [10]. In India, milkfish (C. chanos) and mullets
have been cultured experimentally in salt water ponds
[11]. Polyculture of C. chanos, Valamugil seheli (mullets),
Liza macrolepis and white prawn P. indicus gave a
production of 1364 – 1864 kg/ha. Mixed culture of
V. seheli and Chanos yielded 1422-1600 kg/ha. At
Tuticorin (south eastern coast of India) an estimated
production of 499-739 kg/ha/hr of milkfish, mullets and
The P. monodon seeds (PL 15) were procured from a shrimps was obtained in polyculture [11].
commercial hatchery and transported in oxygenated The maintenance of good water quality is essential
polythene bags (1500 no/bag) of initial wt of 0.005 ± 0.0. for optimum growth and survival of shrimp and fish.
They were acclimatized to FRP tank of 1000 l capacity, The values of water quality parameters reveal that all
after 1 to 2 hrs of acclimatization, the seeds were released these are in the acceptable range for shrimp culture
into mono & polyculture experimental ponds by 2” without any variation. The variation in water temperature
diameter hose pipe. Immediately after introduction the of 29.2 ± 1.55°C in the shrimp ponds during the study
seeds were fed with commercial starter feed twice in a day period was associated with normal climatic change of the
whereas no feed was given to M. tade fish. Growths in experimental area [12]. The temperature was found quite
term of weight (g) were assessed every fortnight with suitable for P. monodon growth as described by Chiu [13]
Shimazu electro – balance (model AEL200) as per Ching and Nakra [14]. The salinity of the present study was
Shan and Lo- Chai [4]. Average daily growth (ADG) and maintained 24-31% in all ponds (Fig. 1). Gunalan, et al.[15]

Fig. 1: Average water quality parameters in mono (P1) and polyculture (P2) ponds

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 African J. of Basic & Appl. Sci., 2 (3-4): 124-127, 2010

Table 1: Average water quality parameters in mono (P1) and polyculture (P2) ponds
Parameters Mono (P 1) Poly (P 2) Mono ( P 1) Poly (P 2)
Temp (°C) 29.2 29.2 29.2 ± 1.55 29.2 ± 1.55
pH 8.32 8.33 8.32 ± 0.33 8.33 ± 0.31
Salinity (‰) 24.27 23.54 24.27 ± 7.9 23.54 ± 7.82
DO (ppm) 5.01 4.7 5.01 ± 0.61 4.7 ± 0.54
Ammonia (mg/l) 0.18 0.01 0.18 ± 0.14 0.019 ± 0.01
Nitrate (mg/l) 4.70 4.25 4.7 ± 2.8 4.25 ± 2.11
Phosphate (mg/l) 1.29 1.25 1.29 ± 0.27 1.25 ± 0.19

Table 2: Economics of mono and poly culture ponds

Monoculture Polyculture
------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.monodon P.monodon M.tade
Ponds P1 P2
Pond Area 8000 8000
Stocking Density 5 5 0.33
Initial Stocking 40000 40000 2653
Stocking Date 24.5.09 24.5.09 24.5.09
Average Daily gain 0.25 0.16 0.13
Days of Culture 142 148 148
Average Body Weight 33.8 g 38.27 g 203.24 g
Survival % 82.60 72 78.40
Total Production (kg) 1116.7 kg 1071 422.4 kg
Production kg / ha 2233.4 2142 844.8
Total Feed Used 1371.9 kg 1792.6 kg No feed
Feed Conversing ratio 1.2 : 1 1.6: 1 NA
Seed cost 0.40 paise/ seed 0.40 paise/ seed Natural collection
Feed cost (Rs / kg) Avg Rs 53.5 Avg Rs 53.5 No feed cost
Total Seed Cost 16,000 16,000 Natural collection
Total Feed cost 73,397 95,904 No feed cost
Selling rate 290 per 30 count 290 per 30 count Rs 40 per kg
Income 326,635 332,010 16,896
Other Expense
(Labour,probiotic,pond Preparation and diesel) 51,860 58,269 nil
Net profit 274,775 290,637

recommended 18-25% salinity was ideal for shrimp Feed is one of the essential inputs in shrimp
growth. The optimal range of pH 6.8 to 8.7 should be production and increase profits. Feed management is
maintained for maximum growth and production of shrimp highly subjective, as feed consumption cannot be directly
[16]. In the present study pH was ranging between 8.3 to observed. In present study CP feeds was used for both
8.4 for all culture ponds. Ramakrishna Reddy [17] was poly and monoculture ponds. The maximum feed
recommended pH of 7.5 to 8.5 for P. monodon culture. conversion ratio was observed1.6 in polyculture pond
Dissolved oxygen plays a major role and its affect the feed (P2) and minimum (1.2) was recorded in monoculture (P1)
consumption and maturation. Lack of dissolved oxygen pond. Soundarapandian and Gunalan [18] observed FCR
can be directly harmful to shrimp and cause a substantial of 1.36 for their study (Table 2). Periodic sampling is very
increase in the level of toxic metabolites. The dissolved important for successful shrimp culture. Its help to know
oxygen in all the culture ponds in the present study was the average weight and this would help to estimate the
ranging between 4.7 to 5.01 mg/l. Ammonia, nitrate and total biomass in the pond for better – feed management.
phosphates were recorded in optimum level during the In the present study the sampling was done from 40th DOC
present study (Table 1). onwards (every fortnight). Higher survival (82.6%) was

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 African J. of Basic & Appl. Sci., 2 (3-4): 124-127, 2010

recorded in monoculture pond and lower survival 8. Gupta, P.K., 1999. Soil plants water and fertilizer
(P.monodon 72% and M. tade 78.4%) was in the analysis. Agrobiols, pp: 137-340.
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P.monodon seeds were stocked in each pond. But in the Acute and chronic toxicity of ammonia to juveniles
P2 pond along with P.monodon 2653 thousand mullet Metapenaeus macleayi and Penaeus monodon and
seeds also stocked. Maximum growth was obtained from the influence of low dissolved- oxygen levels.
pond P2 (38.27grms) and that was followed by pond Aquaculture, 91: 265-280.
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shrimp 422.4Kg of mullets also harvested at the size of the Phillipines. Queensland Department of Primary
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