Effects of Concentrations of Different Combinations of Manure Culture Medium and Period of Growth on Population Density of Brachionus calycflorus

Zooplankton (Brachionus calyciflorus) was screened from Awuma River at Shabu before the onset of rainy season and isolated into mono specific culture in the laboratory. Cow dung, chicken dropping, groundnut cake, soybean cake, rice bran and single super phosphate were combined in different proportions of three, four and five combination of manure in solution (3CM1...4, 4CM1...4 and 5CM1...4.) in three replicates for culture period of 9 days. The effects of concentration, combination of manures and duration of production of the zooplankton were investigated. Dissolved oxygen, (mg/L) temperature ( 0 C), carbon dioxide (mg/L) and total alkalinity (mg/L) of the water used for the various treatments were monitored. The results of concentrations 4.00ml/L and 8.00 ml/L, manure combinations 5CM1 and 5CM2 treatments had the highest population of B. calyciflorus in their own groups. However there was statistical superiority in population density (245 individual/ml of water) in the interactions of treatment combinations 5CM1 at concentration 4.00ml/L of water on day 5 to day 7 of the culture of this organism. Beyond day 7 a declining population density was observed in B. calyciflorus in treatment combinations. The variations in the results of each water parameters used for the culture of the zooplankton were not significantly different (p>0.05) in each of the various treatments and they were within the acceptable for culture of the rotifer. Treatment 5CM1 at concentration 4.00ml/L on day 5 can be used for mass culture of B. calyciflorus. The results of this study are discussed in light of their