Effect of Replacement of Soybean Meal with Duckweed (Lemna minor) Meal on the Growth Performance and Feed Utilization in Nile Tilapia Fingerlings

The present study was designed to evaluate the use of Duckweed (Lemna minor) as are placement of soybeanmeal Protein for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Duckweed was incorporated into four isonitrogenous(30% crude protein) and isocaloric diets (gross energy (448) Kcal/100g). The replacement levels were 25, 50, 75 and100% of the soybean meal protein diet in addition to control diet. The experiment lasted for 56 days. The best finalweight gain, specific growth rate, survival rate and feed utilization (FCR, FE and PER) were significantly (p<0.05)higher for group of fish fed on diet replaced with 25% Duckweed from Soybean protein diet. The highest feedconversion ratio was obtained for group of fish fed on diet replaced by 100% Duckweed. There was a significantdifference (p<0.05) in protein and lipid in carcass proximate composition of the fish feed on diet replacement with 25%Duckweed from Soybean meal protein diet compared to those on the experimental groups. In conclusion, the studyindicates that replacement soybean meal protein with 25% duckweed was the best in terms of growth performance andfeed utilization.