Nutritional value of locally available plants with potential for diets of Tilapia Rendalli in pond aquaculture in NkhataBay, Malawi.

Abstract

Nutrient composition analysis was conducted for selected locally available plant based feedstuffs from Mpamba area in NkhataBay district of northern Malawi. The objective was to identify and isolate those that can be used as ingredients in the formulation of affordable and quality fish feeds to increase pond based fish production in Malawi. The following plant based feedstuffs were collected: Cassava (Manihot esculenta) peels (CP) and leaves (CL) Pawpaw (Carica papaya) leaves (PL), Sweet potato (Ipomea batatus) leaves, meal and tubers (SPL), (SPP) and (SPM) Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) (JF), Mexican fireplant (MF) (Euphorbia heterophylla), Black jack (Bidens pilosa) (BJ), Banana (Musa balbisiana) leaves (BL), Maize (Zea maise) bran (MZB), and Akee (Blighia sapid) leaves (AK). Results showed that Cassava (Manihot esculenta) leaves, Black jack (Bidens pilosa) and Cocoyam (Caladium bicolor) leaves contain significantly high levels of crude protein: 21.17 ± 0.56%, 24.35 ± 0.7% and 24.28 ± 0.11% respectively. Energy levels ranged from 29.7 kj/g to 8.78 kj/g for Sweet potato leaves and cassava peels respectively. In addition, all plant feedstuffs had low levels of crude fiber ranging from 3.78 ± 0.20% to 16.84 ± 0.26%. Depending on their availability, potential, competition for other uses, crude protein, energy, crude fiber levels, most of the leaves analyzed demonstrated to be potential sources of fish feed. This suggests that while leaves have been utilized in low input aquaculture systems, they may serve as feeds for fish once the plant feedstuffs are appropriately incorporated in formulated diets and alternatively as organic fertilizers.