Description

Abstract: The study aimed to test the suitability of sugarcane bagasse as substrate in periphyton based aquaculture. The study was conducted at the College of Fisheries-Freshwater Aquaculture Center, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines from July to November, 2005.

Two ponds, each measuring 500 m2 , were stocked with tilapia fingerlings (size #12) ata density of 3 fish m-2 . The experiment had two treatments: 1- with sugarcane bagasse bundles as substrate, 11- without substrate. Ten poles made-up of galvanized iron were installed in each pond at a regular interval of 200 cm. A bundle of sugarcane bagasse substrate with a length of 60 cm and diameter of 14 cm was placed in each pole. An improvised glass slide holder containing ten glass slides was placed next to the bagasse substrate for the determination of periphyton productivity and chlorophyll a. In Treatment II, since there was no sugarcane bagasse substrate, only the glass slide holder with ten glass slides was placed in each pole.

Among the two treatments, Treatment I gave significantly higher fish final mean weight and total fish weight at harvest. The final mean weight of the fish in Treatment I was 65.95