Tilapia growth in irrigation water reservoir and water parameters evaluation

Abstract

This research was carried out aiming to evaluate tilapia production in irrigation water reservoir, improving the productivity in small scale family farms. Tilapia juveniles (3.600) with 8.10 g of initial weight were put in a water reservoir with useful volume of 1,170 m³ and bred for seven and half months. Fish were fed with commercial feed specific for each level. The feed was given 3 times a day, in the amount of 5% of its total biomass. In order to adjust feed amount, fish were weighed every 20 days. At the same time, local water analyses were made and water samples were collected for laboratory analyses. At the end of the trial growth parameters were measured. Average final weight was of 535 g and total final biomass was of 18.489 kg ha^-1. Water quality parameters were within optimal values for fish culture. Fish production in the water reservoirs for irrigation is viable for the small scale farmer as a way to increase water, area and family productivity.