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Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 13, 2021

Effect of diets containing medicinal plant ingredients on growth
performance of red tilapia

Guruge W.A.H.P. and Nishshanka K.M.

Department of Zoology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka
Email: guruge@zoo.ruh.ac.lk

Abstract

Present study was carried out to ascertain the effect of diets supplemented by three

medicinal plant ingredients (Kathurumurunga: Sesbania grandiflora (T1), Beli:
Aegle marmelos (T2) and Garlic: Allium sativum (T3) on growth performance of

Oreochromis sp. (red tilapia) and water quality parameters. Red tilapia fry

(Oreochromis sp.) were used for the experiment (n=360). Fish were stocked in three
circular fiber glass tanks to acclimatize for one week. Circular fiberglass tanks were

treated with ingredients of Sesbania grandiflora, Aegle marmelos, Allium sativum
containing diets and control diet. Experimental design was Complete Randomized

block design with triplicate; hence twelve experimental indoor fiberglass tanks were

utilized. Thirty red tilapia fries weighing with 0.3052(±0.0086) g were stocked in
each tank and were fed with 5% of their body mass twice per day for three-month

period. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, conductivity, temperature,
Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5), nitrate and ortho-

phosphate concentrations were recorded every second week. Fish in garlic treated
(T3) and control (C) tanks were shown higher growth rates. Condition factor of fish

in T1, T3 and control tanks was significantly higher (p<0.05) than T2 tanks. Water

quality parameters such as BOD5, conductivity, nitrate and ortho-phosphate
concentrations in control tanks were higher than treated tanks. All physicochemical

parameters but pH were not significantly different (p<0.05) in experimental groups.
Diets with medicinal plant ingredients have the ability to maintain good water

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