Effects of Stocking Density and Monosex Culture of Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii on Growth and Production in Concrete Tanks in Saudi Arabia |
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| Authors: | Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui Yousef S Al-Hafedh Ahmed H Al-Harbi Seikh A Ali |
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| Institution: | Research Institute of Natural Resources and Environment, KACST, P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh 11442 Saudi Arabia |
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| Abstract: | Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density and monosex culture on growth, survival, yield and feed conversion ratio of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in concrete tanks. Juvenile prawns with an average weight of 1.8 g were stocked into triplicate tanks at densities of 5, 10, 15 and 20 prawns/m2, grown for 168 d and fed a 34% tilapia diet. Stocking density had significant effect on prawns. Final mean body weight decreased with the increasing density, being highest at 5 prawns/m2 (29.6 9). and lowest at 20 prawns/m2 (17.4 g). Total yield increased from 135 g/m2 (1,350 kg/ha) at a density of 5 prawns/m2 to 261 g/m2 (2,610 kg/ha) at density 15/mz to 245 g/m2 (2,450 kg/ha) at 20/mz. Feed conversion ratios were high and ranged from 3.7 (5 prawns/m2) to 5.6 (20 prawns/m2).
In monosex culture of freshwater prawns stocked in triplicate tanks at a density of 5 prawns/m2 for 112 d, the all-male population had the best growth performance and feed conversion ratio, followed by the mixed-sex and all-female populations. The all-male population had 99% marketable prawns (>20 g) with an average yield of 159 g/m2 (1,590 kg/ha); the mixed-sex population had 90% marketable prawns and the yield was 135 g/mz (1,350 kg/ha); and the all-female population had 75% marketable prawns with an average yield of 108 g/m2 (1,080 kgha). |
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