Effect of Bivalves on Water Quality, Microbial Load and Growth Performance of P. vannamei and M. cephalus in Halophyte-based Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture Reared under Pond Conditions

Background: IMTA is an integrated and eco-friendly farming approach, where organisms from different trophic levels can be cultured in the same system to take advantage of synergistic interaction between species. Methods: The experiment was conducted earthen ponds for four months investigate effect bivalves (M. casta) halophyte-based on water quality, growth performance microbial load. Shrimp fish were fed with commercial feed containing 35% 30% crude protein, respectively. Result: total ammonia nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen nitrite comparatively low treatments, T1 (0.13±0.012, 0.013±0.003 0.45±0.01, respectively) T2 (0.15±0.005, 0.017±0.003 0.50±0.01, respectively). Similarly, better average body weight, specific rate conversion ratio found (Shrimp: 33.87±0.88 g, 6.20±0.01% 1.10±0.02 respectively, Fish: 94.18±0.08 1.59±0.001% 1.60±0.006 32.37±0.60 6.16±0.02 % 1.15±0.02 respectively fish: 92.91±0.2 1.59±0.009 1.63±0.08 Therefore it concluded that use helps create quality survival P. vannamei M. cephalus multi-trophic aquaculture.