Stocking Density and Supplemental Feeding

Pond carrying capacity is largely determined by management practices. Earlier work on semiintensive culture of tilapia using manure or inorganic fertilizers indicated that carrying capacity might reach 2,000 to 3,000 kg/ha (Diana et al. 1991a, b; KnudHansen et al. 1991). As stocking density is increased in fertilized ponds, carrying capacity remains largely the same and density-dependent growth occurs (Diana et al. 1991b). Thus the ultimate size of fish at harvest is largely related to density stocked in fertilized ponds, while biomass at harvest is more consistent regardless of stocking density. Maximum size at harvest for these fertilized ponds is approximately 250 g for fish grown five months.