The Efficacy of Duckweed (Lemnoideae) Leaf as a Fortified Fish

Feeds to the Growth of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Life Science: Medicine & Health

Team Category

Christian Paul Rezaga

Zion Kent Tilanas
Mark Anthony Janeo
10 – Pascal
Researchers

Maebel Morado
Project Adviser

Jennie H. Grande
Research Teacher

Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National Highschool

Division of La Carlota City
Region VI - Western Visayas

October 2023
 A. Rationale

According to the International Journal of Biometeorology small-scale fish culture has

frequently struggled due to insufficient knowledge of ideals, such as fish stock densities (Osofero

et al. 2009). Survival, growth, behavior, water quality, and feeding are straightly affected by

stocking density (SD). In a culture system, stocking density is the concentration of fish stocked

into a system (Gomes et al. 2006; De Oliveira et al. 2012). High-density tilapia cultures have

proved successful, but it has been difficult to compare the results with studies conducted on low-

storage tilapia because individual studies do not address problems arising from many interactive

factors (Ali et al. 2006). SD is important in determining finfish aquaculture system productivity,

mainly by maximizing water utilization. However, high stocking density may also limit growth

and harm fish revival when physiological and spatial needs are not adequately met (Le Ruyet et

al. 2008). Increasing SD generally leads to direct increases in stress conditions, leading to a

decrease in the growth rate and food utilization. On the other side, fish may not form shoals at

very low densities and may be unsecured (Chambel et al. 2015).

B. Research Questions or Problems Being Addressed:

 Is there a significant effect in the use of Duckweed (Lemnoideae) leaf as a fortified fish food
to the growth of nile tilapia (Oreochromis nilocus) in varying time?
 Is there a significant difference between the use of Duckweed (Lemnoideae) and commercial
fortified fish foods for the growth of nile tilapia (Oreochromis nilocus) in varying time
intervals?
 C. Goals/Expected Outcomes/Hypotheses:

Goals:

 The goal is to increase the number of nile tilapia and their capacity to produce by
using organic fortified fish foods through using these naturally occurring
components from malunggay.

Expected Outcome:

The researchers expect Duckweed to produce a serve as a fortified fish food to the growth

of nile tilapia in varying time.

Hypotheses:

 Duckweed (Lemnoideae) has no significant effect as a fortified fish food to the

growth of nile tilapia.

 There is no significant difference in terms of using Duckweed (Lemnoideae) and

commercial fortified fish foods for the growth of nile tilapia (Oreochromis nilocus) in

varying time intervals?

D. Procedures

Research Design:

This study will use:

The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) assumes that a population of experimental
units can be divided into a number of relatively homogeneous subpopulations or blocks. The
treatments are then randomly assigned to experimental units such that each treatment occurs
equally often (usually once) in each block and each block contains all treatments.
 Research locale:

The experiment will be conducted at one of the researcher’s residence.

Materials and Equipment Needed:

Collection of Materials:

Collection of Materials for the mixture of Duckweed (Lemnoideae) and PO1 replicates fish feeds
The PO1 fish feeds will be bought to Nelims, La Carlota City.

The Malunggay will be collected to Brgy. Batuan, La Carlota City.

The electronic balance will be borrowed at the Chemistry Laboratory in DHSBNHS

Mixture of Malunggay (Moringa oleifara) and PO1 fish feeds

The collected Duckweed will be sun-dried and powdered by mortar and pestle. The powdered
Duckweed will then be mixed to the 370g PO1 fish feeds. It will be then measured through an
electronic balance at the Chemistry Laboratory in DHSBNHS. Each mixture will then store in a
container.

Preparation for the improvised fish ponds

The 12 plastic boxes will be bought and will be collected. The trash bag will also be
purchased. The trash bag will be put on every plastic box container and screen will also use to
cover the containers for its protection against insects and falling leaves. The improvised fish
ponds will then fill up with 8 gallons of water. One fish will be distributed per container.
Preparation of Treatments

PO1 fish feeds and Duckweed powdered leaves will be measured using electronic
balance at DHSBNHS Chemistry Laboratory. Treatment 1 will be 100g of PO1 fish feeds,
Treatment 2 is a mixture of 5g Duckweed and 95g of PO1 fish feeds, Treatment 3 is a mixture of
10g of Duckweed and 90g of PO1 fish feeds, and lastly, Treatment 4 is a mixture of 15g
Duckweed and 85g of PO1 fish feeds.

Application of Treatment

Treatment 1 – 0g Duckweed and 100g of PO1 fish feeds

Treatment 2 – 5g Duckweed and 95g of PO1 fish feeds

Treatment 3 – 10g Duckweed and 90g of PO1 fish fee

Treatment 4 – 15g Duckweed and 85g of PO1 fish feeds

The fishes will be fed twice a day in 21 days. From the 1st until the 2nd week, each
treatment will consume half of the feed mixture. On the remaining days, the remaining feed
mixture will be fed because fishes consume more food as they grow bigger.

Risk and Safety:

Knife-related mishaps occur frequently. The safety precautions and protocols required for the
study and experiment are duly observed by the researchers. In order to prevent catastrophic
events and accidents during the experiment, the researchers will be outfitted with the appropriate
equipment. In order to avoid endangering our natural habitat, the researchers will carefully
handle their experiment and follow all the procedures. They will also be extra cautious when
handling the data analysis and even more resourceful when using the necessary materials for the
experiment. Above all, they will not harm anyone, especially the natural world, with the
supervision of an adult.
 Waste Disposal:

After the experiment, the improvised ponds will be reused for further usage and the
Catfish will be continuously taken care of.

Data gathering

In order to determine the effectiveness of the treatments, the researcher will use the Feed
Conversion Ratio every end of the week for 21 days. The fishes will be weighed using the
electronic balance every week and Vernier Calipier will be used to determine the length and
weight of the fishes. The length of fish is measured from mouth to caudal peduncle.

E. Data Analysis

The mean weight of fish fed with the different treatments will be recorded. To answer

hypothesis # 1, mean and standard will be used.

To answer hypothesis # 2. The data will then be subjected to One Way ANOVA to determine

and compare if there is a significant difference of the mixture of Malunggay and PO1 fish

feeds

for the growth of Catfish.

 F. Bibliography

https://www.springer.com/journal/484

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0044848605007428

https://hatcheryfm.com/fish/tilapia-farming-genetics-diseases-and-scale-challenges/?fbclid=IwA
R2I9HP2BKCtj8UeD1I1JnSZeGLBBgA6wIM8gwrIinHRAKP6a1LCgKCyROk#:~:text
=Diseas es%20are%20one%20of%20the,of%20USD%201%20billion%20annually

https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-main-factors-affecting-growth-performance-of-ore
ochromis-niloticus-l-1758-in-aquaculture-system-116958.html?
fbclid=IwAR3Je36ZXZyZuNB4
FJOL5MkXZaD6TcDRfomhEsOQGLRpQR51veVoRggm9Qg#:~:text=Growth
%20performance %20of%20Nile%20tilapia,pH%2C%20salinity%20and%20ammonia

https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/6/322#:~:text=Nile%20tilapia%20is%20a%20high,mostly
%20influenced%20by%20temperature%20warming.