Author(s): Adedokun MA, Ogundiran MA and Alatise SP

Abstract: Assessment of nutritional qualities of aquatic weeds grown in Kainji Lake, Nigeria; Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and morning glory (Ipomoea asarifolia) leaf-meals was carried out using standard laboratory methods. The nutritive values, mineralization and protein building units for the aquatic weeds were determined as potential fish feedstuffs. The leaf meal of I. aquatica contained crude ash (12.50%), crude fibre (7.62%), crude protein (25.60%), crude lipid (6.33%), Carbohydrate (47.95%), metabolizable energy value of 311.24kcal/g and energy/protein ratio of 12.16. While the nutritive values in I. asarifolia leaf-meal were crude ash (11.50%), crude fibre (8.77%), crude protein (21.90%), crude lipid (5.88%) and carbohydrate (48.05%), metabolizable energy (294.81kcal/g) and energy/protein ratio (13.46). The mineral contents of the leaf-meals of the two species of the Ipomoea were potassium (444 mg/100g), calcium (163mg/100g), Sodium (159.8 mg/100g), phosphorus (86 mg/100g), magnesium (52 mg/100g), copper (5.3 mg/100 g), zinc (4.1 mg/100g), iron (3.2 mg/100g) and manganese (2.3 mg/100g). I. aquatic leaf meal contained 407 mg/100g and 26 mg/100g higher in both indispensable and dispensable amino acids values than I. asarifolia leaf meal. The two aquatic leaves had abundant components of essential amino acids. Empirically, the Ipomoea spp exhibited or showed low methionine contents which are a common occurence in plant protein. I. aquatic and I. asarifolia leaf meals could be good supplements for some nutrients and natural antioxidants as an alternative for fish feed ingredients. Therefore, such feed can an alternative meal for Clariids species and cultured cichlids.

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