Author(s): Sadar Aslam and Amina Zuberi

Abstract: A 90-day feeding trial was carried out to determine and compare the effects of duckweed (Lemna minor) and soybean (Glycine max) meals as a source of protein on the growth performance, growth hormone levels and proximate composition of Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes, 1844) and Silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844) in monoculture as well as polyculture system. In the present study, 35% protein practical diets, F_SBM (feed containing 21% soybean meal) and F_DW (feed having 21% duckweed) were prepared as a source of protein. At the end of the experiment, Grass carp showed a non-significantly higher growth rate as compared to Silver carp when fed F_DW while Silver carp showed a higher growth rate in response to F_SBM diet in both culture systems. A similar trend was observed in Percentage weight gain (% WG), specific growth rate (SGR%) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE%). The Grass carp and Silver carp fed with F_DW and F_SBM diets showed significantly (P<0.05) higher growth hormone levels in polyculture as compare to monoculture system. In this study, proximate composition analysis showed approximately similar composition of both diets. It can be concluded from this study, that duckweed can be used as a protein source in fish feed for the selected fish species.

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