Composite Fish Culture in Hills

In order to obtain high fish production per hectare of

water body, fast growing compatible different species
of Indian and Exotic carps of different feeding habits
are stocked and cultured in the same pond, so that all
its ecological niches are utilized by the fishes. This
technique of fish culture is called Composite Fish
culture or Polyculture or Mixed Farming
According to the depth, a pond can be
divided in to three distinct zones
I. Upper surface zone
II. Middle column zone
III. Bottom zone

A particular species exploits a particular zone.
The method adopted in composite fish culture
can be broadly divided in to three phases

I. Pre-stocking management
II. Stocking management
III. Post-stocking management
I. Pre-stocking management
a) Weed clearance
Reduce the living space available
Prevent sunlight
Consume nutrients from the pond
Provide shelter to fish enemies
Cause obstruction for harvesting of fish
Upsetting the O
2
balance

Eradication of Weed and Predatory
Fish
Ponds have to be poisoned using fish toxins of plant
origin

Mahua oil cake is a popular fish poison of plant origin
and is effective at a dose of 200-250 ppm- this at a
stage also serve as a manure

Manuring
Organic manure and chemical fertilizers
Raw cow dung should be applied after 7 days @
500kg/ha
When mahua is not applied, the dose of RCD should
be 10,000 kg/ha and applied 15 days before stocking
the fish seed
Liming
After 15 days of mahua oil cake application i.e. 7 days
after RCD application
The dose of lime for different soil
types
pH of soil Type of soil Dose of lime
(kg/ha)
4.5 Highly acidic 2000
5.0-6.0 Moderately
acidic
1200
6.0-6.5 Mildly acidic 1000
6.5-7.0 Near neutral 400
7.0-7.5 Mildly
alkaline
200
Stocking management
Fingerling size- preferably 100-150 mm for hill micro
situation
Stocking density: 7500 fingerlings/ha (6000
fingerlings/ha is also justified if the rearing period is
limited to 8-10 months)

Stocking management contd..
Species combination
a) Lower altitude (up to 2500 ft above MSL)-
2 catla: 2 rohu: 1.5 mrigal: 2 silver carp: 1 grass
carp: 1.5 common carp
b) Medium altitude (up to 3500 ft above MSL)-
2 catla: 1 rohu: 1 mrigal: 3 silver carp: 1 grass carp:
2 common carp
c) Higher altitude(above 3500 ft& below 4500
MSL)- 4 silver carp: 2.5 grass carp: 3.5 common
carp
Post-stocking management
I. Fertilization
a) Organic manure- Cow dung @ 12000kg/ha/yr
b) Inorganic manure- Urea @ 250kg, Ammonium
sulphate @450kg, SSP @ 300kg/ha/yr
Inorganic manure is normally applied after 15 days of
application of organic manure
Fertilization should not be done during cloudy weather
and when algal blooms appears
Supplementary Feeding
Rice polish and M.O.Cake in a ratio of 1:1 by weight @ 3%
of the body weight of fish per day
The feed can be adjusted by regular monitoring of food
consumption from the feeding trays
Feed is administered twice daily morning and evening
Rice polish and M.O.C are mixed together with some
water to make a dough
the feed is then kept in bamboo trays and placed in the
pond
10-15 trays will be required for a 1 ha. pond
Supplementary Feeding contd..
Aquatic and terrestrial vegetation including fodder
grasses and vegetable wastes can be supplemented for
grass carp
Grass carp is feed at least 1hr prior to the feeding of rice
polish+M.O.Cake
Feed for the grass carp can be provided on a feeding tray
(made of split bamboo in a rectangular form)

Liming
Once in a month @ 25kg/ha (300kg/ha/yr) 1 to 2 days
after RCD application

Raking
A day after liming, raking of pond bottom is done
- Helps for proper mixing of lime
- Helps to release obnoxious gases formed in the bottom
soil
Growth and Health Care
Regular checking by periodic netting at least once in a
two months.
If feed provided is not consumed, either the fish are
suffering from some disease or the water quality is
deteriorated.
A check on the water quality and hygiene of the pond
and the health of the fish is necessary to take remedial
measures
Harvesting and Production
Generally practiced for 12 months












With proper management a production of 2000-3000kg/ha/yr
with a net profit of Rs.40,000 to Rs.45,000 can be normally
expected with the six species combination
Catla 800gm-1kg
Rohu 600-800gm
Mrigal 400-600gm
Silve carp 1.0-1.2kg
Grass carp 1.0-1.5kg
Common carp 800gm-1.0kg
Economics (12 months culture period in a 1ha pond)
Sl.
No
Items Cost (Rs.)
A.Expenditure
1 Weed clearance 1,000.00
2 Mahua Oil Cake (2500kg @ Rs.4.50/kg) 11,250.00
3 Lime (1500kg@ Rs.6.00.kg) 9,000.00
4 Cow dung (20,000kg @ Rs. 30.00/Quintal) 6,000.00
5 Urea (250kg @ Rs.6.00/kg) 1,500.00
6 SSP (300kg @ Rs.5.00/kg) 1,500.00
7 Fingerlings (@7500 nos./ha) 15,000.00
8 Feed i) Rice bran (2625kg @ Rs.4.00/kg) 10,500.00
ii) M.O.C (2625kg @ Rs.7.00/kg) 18,375.00
9 Netting 2,000.00
10 Miscellaneous 5,000.00
Total Expenditure 81,125.00
B.Return
2500kg fish @ Rs.50/kg 1,25,000.00
C Profit (B-A) 43,875.00
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