Culture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii using indigenous floral extract in the hilly terrains of Koraput district of Odisha, India

An experimental design for culturing Macrobrachium rosenbergii in four experimental ponds of size 25 m(2) was taken up in Koraput district of Odisha, India. The ponds were filled with water and Macrobrachium rosenbergii PL(20) were released in the ponds with stocking density @ 4 m(−2). Ponds 1 and 2 were fed with Conventional Feed (fish meal) and ponds 3 and 4 were fed with Formulated Feed (Soybean + Cynodon dactylon + Ulva lactuca). Water quality parameters like surface water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, transparency, nitrate, phosphate and silicate, chlorophyll a and organic carbon were monitored for 195 days. Significant variation (p < 0.05) in the water quality parameters were observed during the culture period between ponds respectively. Growth parameters like daily growth rate (DGR), specific growth rate (SGR) and condition index (CI) were monitored simultaneously which showed a discrete growth during the first 90 days and then a stable growth form. Length and weight relationship of prawns were calculated for all the culture ponds which showed highly positive relationship (p < 0.01) proving unique contribution of feed towards the growth of prawns. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) values (Ranging from 2.74 ± .05 to 2.95 ± 0.04) also proved the greater acceptance of feed towards the growth of prawns. Biochemical analysis of the feed and prawn (protein, carbohydrate, lipid and astaxanthin) also proved the feed efficiency towards growth and coloration of prawn. Benefit cost analysis (BCA) computed for conventional feed (1.23) and formulated feed (1.62) yielded 637 kg ha(−1) and 865 kg ha(−1) respectively.