Farming largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) with lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and radicchio (Cichorium intybus) in aquaponics: effects of stocking density on fish growth and quality, and vegetable production

Abstract

Submitted 2020-06-30 | Accepted 2020-09-01 | Available 2020-12-01

https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2020.23.mi-fpap.79-87

The present study assessed the effects of two initial stocking densities (low – LD, 4.23 kg m-3, moderate – MD, 8.05 kg m-3) on growth, health and fillet quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and on yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and radicchio (Cichorium intybus group Rubifolium) produced in a low-tech recirculating aquaponic system. A total of 104 largemouth bass (initial body weight: 236 ± 38 g) were randomly stocked in eight 500 L tanks (four per stocking density) and monitored during a 70-day period. Vegetables yield was similar in LD and MD groups. Lettuce yield (6.33 kg m-2) was in line with typical values, whereas radicchio showed a negligible yield (1.34 kg m-2). Likewise, fish final weight (263 g, on average), specific growth rate (0.17% d-1), feed conversion ratio (2.72), and mortality (4.8%) did not differ between treatments. Fish morphometric indices, slaughter results and fillet quality were not affected by stocking density. In conclusion, the production of lettuce was successful in the tested system, whereas the production of radicchio did not achieve satisfactory results. Growth performances of the largemouth bass were poor and further investigations are required to optimize the rearing of this fish species in low-tech aquaponic systems.

Keywords: largemouth bass, lettuce, radicchio, water quality, flesh quality

References

BAßMANN, B. et al. (2017). Stress and welfare of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) in a coupled aquaponic system. Water, 9(7), 504. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9070504

BROWN, T. G. et al. (2009). Biological synopsis of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2884, v + 27 p.

CHAVES-POZO, E. et al. (2019). An overview of the reproductive cycle of cultured specimens of a potential candidate for Mediterranean aquaculture, Umbrina cirrosa. Aquaculture, 505, 137–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.02.039

CHEN, Y. et al. (2020). Effects of dietary fish oil replacement by soybean oil and L-carnitine supplementation on growth performance, fatty acid composition, lipid metabolism and liver health of juvenile largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. Aquaculture, 516, 734596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734596

PANTANELLA, E. et al. (2012). Aquaponics vs. hydroponics: production and quality of lettuce crop. Acta Horticulturae, 927, 887-893. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.927.109

RAHMAN, M. M (2015). Role of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in aquaculture production systems. Frontiers in Life Science, 8(4), 399–410. https://doi.org/10.1080/21553769.2015.1045629

RAKOCY, J. E. (2012). Aquaponics: integrating fish and plant culture. In: Tidwell J.H. (Ed), Aquaculture production systems. India: Wiley-Blackwell (pp. 343–386). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118250105.ch14

SAS (Statistical Analysis System). 2013. SAS/STAT(R) 9.2 User’s Guide, second ed. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. Retrieved May 10, 2020 from http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/statug/63033/HTML/default/viewer.htm#glm_toc.htm

SOMERVILLE, C. et al. (2014). Small-scale aquaponic food production. Integrated fish and plant farming. Rome: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 589. Retrieved May 15, 2020 from http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4021e.pdf

SUÁREZ, M. D. et al. (2014). Influence of dietary lipids and culture density on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) flesh composition and quality parameter. Aquaculture Engineering, 63, 16–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2014.09.001

SUN, J.-L. et al. (2020). Interactive effect of thermal and hypoxia on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) gill and liver: Aggravation of oxidative stress, inhibition of immunity and promotion of cell apoptosis. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 98, 923–936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2019.11.056

TIDWELL, J. H. et al. (2000). Species profile – Largemouth bass. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center 722. Retrieved May 20, 2020 from http://aquaculture.ca.uky.edu/aquaculture-publications/12

TIDWELL, J. H. et al. (2007). Effect of stocking density on growth and water quality for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides growout in ponds. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 29, 79–83. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-7345.1998.tb00302.x

TYSON, R. V. et al. (2004). Reconciling water quality parameters impacting nitrification in aquaponics: the pH levels. In: Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 117, 79–83. Retrieved May 20, 2020 from https://journals.flvc.org/fshs/article/view/858557_11

VITULE, J. R. S. et al. (2006). Introduction of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) into Southern Brazil. Biological Invasions, 8, 677–681. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-005-2535-8

WANG, Y. et al. (2019). Effect of stocking density on growth, serum biochemical parameters, digestive enzymes activity and antioxidant status of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 51(4), 1509–1517. http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/2019.51.4.1509.1517

WATTS, C. et al. (2016). Evaluation of stocking density during second‐year growth of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, raised indoors in a recirculating aquaculture system. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 47(4), 538–543. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12315

YILDIZ, H. Y. et al. (2017). Fish welfare in aquaponic systems: its relation to water quality with an emphasis on feed and faeces—A review. Water, 9(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9010013

YUAN, J. et al. (2019). Analysis of the growth performances, muscle quality, blood biochemistry and antioxidant status of Micropterus salmoides farmed in in-pond raceway systems versus usual-pond systems. Aquaculture, 511, 734241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734241