The impact of chapila (Gudusia chapra) on the growth of carps was determined through introducing the fish in polyculture. A net average production with and without chapila were obtained at 467.11 and 889.54 kg/ha respectively (PO.OS). The highest level of dietary overlap occurred between chapila and catla followed by chapila and rohu (P<O.OS). The present study revealed that chapila reduces the net production at 47.49% in carps polyculture

Dewan, S.

Hossain, M.A.

Islam, M.S.

Kabir, A.K.M.A.

Rahmatullah, S.M.

Aquatic Commons

Bangladesh}. Fish. Res., 1 (2) : 19-23 
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute 
July 1997 
Impact of chapila (Gudusia chapra Ham.) on growth of 
carps in polyculture 
M.A. Hossain1,*, S.M. Rahmatullah, M.S. Islam, A.K.M.A. Kabir1, M.S. lslam1 
and S. Dewan 
Department of Aquaculture 
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh 
1 Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymenshing-2201 
*Corresponding author 
Abstract 
The impact of chapila (Gudusia chapra) on the growth of carps was determined 
through introducing the fish in polyculture. A net average production with and 
without chapila were obtained at 467.11 and 889.54 kg/ha respectively (P<O.OS) 
without affecting the survival of carps (P>O.OS). The highest level of dietary 
overlap occurred between chapila and catla followed by chapila and rohu 
(P<O.OS). The present study revealed that chapila reduces the net production at 
47.49% in carps polyculture. 
Key words : Carps polyculture 
Introduction 
Polyculture management techniques are based on the relationships 
between organisms at different levels of the food chain and the environment 
(Halver 1984, Hepher et a/. 1989). Food and feeding habits of fishes are the 
prerequisites to the understanding the interspecific relationships for proper 
management of an ideal fishery system. For a better utilization of the food 
available in different strata a.nd zones of an aquatic environment and maximizing 
production depends on the selection of appropriate fish species (Jhingran 1975). 
A knowledge of food and feeding habits would thus help in the selection of 
species for polyculture by ensuring maximum production through utilization of all 
available potential food in the waterbodies with minimum competition. To 
achieve adequate knowledge of the food and feeding behaviours and the extent 
of food competition between coinhabiting fish species, evaluation of dietary 
overlap are of great importance (Wahab and Ahmed 1992). 
M.A. Hossain et a!. 
Therefore, considering the above facts, the present study was undertaken to 
observe the growth and determine the feasibility of culturing chapila in 
polyculture system by evaluating the production and dietary overlap among 
selected species (chapila, rohu, catla and mrigal). 
Materials and methods 
The experiment was conducted for a period of five months July to 
November, 1995 in six ponds of BOO m2 with an average depth of 1.5m. The 
ponds were fertilized with urea and triple super phosphate (TSP) @ 25kg/ha 
respectively, after three days of liming @ 250 kg/ha. Three ponds were stocked 
with Indian major carps viz., rohu, catla and mrigal at the ratio of 4:3:3 at a 
stocking density of 6000/ha and the rest three ponds were stocked with the 
same manner plus 25% (1500/ha) of the total number with chapila under the 
treatment I and II, respectively. 
Twenty fish of each species were randomly sampled fortnightly to know the 
growth and for adjustment the feeding on the basis of standing crop. All the 
ponds were fertilized fortnightly with Urea and TSP @ 25 kg/ha. The fishes were 
fed with supplementary feed with rice bran and mustard oil cake (2:1) daily at 
3% of the total body weight. Routine sampling for water quality parameters such 
as DO, pH, transparency and temperature were monitored weekly between 
8.0-9.0 AM. 
Five fishes were sacrificed and plankton sample collected through plankton 
net from each of the three ponds of the treatment II fortnightly. The preserved 
samples of plankton from ponds water and stomach content were investigated 
through a binocular microscope (X1 0) using a Sedgewick-Rafter Cell (Model 550, 
Fisons) following a standard method (APHA 1985) for counting plankton and 
identified upto genus level according to Prescott (1962) and Bellinger (1992). The 
dietary overlap among G. chapra, L. rohita C. cat/a and C. migra/a were 
determined using Schoener 1s Index equation given by Schoener (1970). 
Results and discussion 
The overall mean values of each water quality parameters between the two 
treatments showed insignificant differences (P>0.05) except Secchi readings 
(P<0.05). The summarized data of growth of fish in the two Treatments are 
presented in Table 1. The results showed that the overall mean values for length 
and weight of carps under the two Treatments were found to be much higher in 
Treatment I over Treatment II owing to the absence of chapila. The weight basis 
data varied significantly (P<0.05) in rohu between the treatments i.e. with and 
without chapila and the other two for catla and mrigal were found to be almost 
higher which is also due to absence of chapila. Comparatively higher values of 
coefficient of correlation and regression were found in length-weight 
20 
Impact of chapila in polycu/ture 
relationships for carps in Treatment I than that of treatments II. Thus the results 
indicates higher growth, healthy and relative robustness of carps cultured 
without chapila than that of with chapila. The reflection of these results can also 
be seen in the data given in Table 2 where net production was 90% higher 
(P<0.01) in the polyculture of carps without chapila (Treatment I) over that of with 
chapila (Treatment II). It also be noted that chapila reduces the net production of 
carps to 47% in polyculture compared to that of without chapila. No significant 
differences (P>O.OS) was found in survival rates of carps between the two 
treatments. 
Table 1. Length-weight relationships and t-tests between mean values for rohu, catla and 
mrigal under the two treatments 
Species Treat- Mean t-statistic Correlation between length and weight 
ment Length I Weight Correlation I Regression 'Intercept 
(em) (g)_ coefficient coefficient 
lj 14.364 89.754 0.97691 11.87884 -80.86872 
± 4.899 ± 59.573 
Rohu 2.745* 
T2 10.233 31.426 0.97936 7.39718 -44.27228 
±3.004 ± 22.694 
lj 14.932 116.594 0.97579 13.33853 -82.57959 
± 5.359 ± 73.256 
Catla 1.932NS 
T2 11.893 6'1. 683 0.92677 9.25999 -51.53552 
± 4.027 ± 43.554 
lj 15.623 111.640 0.96762 13.74926 -103.16920 
± 6.072 ± 86.286 
Mrigal 1.442NS 
T2 13.292 62.957 0.96660 9.75750 -66.74218 
± 5.253 ± 53.029 
NS =Non significant at 0.05 level (P>0.05) 
* =Significant at 0.05 level (P<0.05) 
Where, t 0.05 (16) = 2.120 and to.01 (16) = 2.921 
Table 2. Species wise survival rate, yield and production of two treatments during the 
period of experiment 
Treatment Species Survival Yield Production (kg/ha) 
rate (%) (kg/ha) Gross I Net 
L. rohita 60.50 255.60 
T1 C. cat/a 80.22 312.66 926.34 889.54 
C. mrigala 80.00 358.08 
L. rohita 67.33 71.01 
T2 C. cat/a 72.22 132.72 512.93 467.11 
C. mrigala 80.00 234.07 
C. chapra Not 75.13 
estimated 
21 
M.A. Hossain et a/. 
Estimates of dietary overlap based on calculation of schoener's index were 
summarized in Table 3. The highest level of dietary overlap occurred between 
chapila and catla followed by chapila and rohu and the lowest level occurred 
between chapila and mrigal (P<O.OS). 
Table 3. Dietary overlap between chapila and Indian major carps, catla, rohu and mrigal in 
different fortnight 
Group Schoener Index 
chapila/catla chapila/rohu chapila/mrigal 
Bacillarioplyceae 0.79 0.58 0.60 
Chlorophyceae 0.70 0.41 0.43 
Cyanophyceae 0.60 0.71 0.47 
Eugl anophyceae 0.53 0.63 0.52 
Zooplankton 0.24 0.33 0.25 
Phytoplankton 0.66 0.58 0.51 
Zooplankton 0.24 0.33 0.25 
The branchial mesh size of chapila is nearly related to silver carp (Aiam 
1995, Rahmatullah 1992). Dewan eta/. (1991) stated that the greatest dietary 
overlap were observed for catla-silver carp. There is a remarkable significant 
effect on the growth of catla and rohu by silver carp (Matin. 1995). Hence, due 
to smaller branchial mesh size of chapila it appears to dominant for food 
competition and greatest dietary overlap occurred for chapila-catla and chapila-
rohu. 
Conclusions 
Therefore, there is a clear indication in this study that the chapila does not 
suite in polyculture with Indian major carps because the fish is a strong filter 
feeder and heavily compete for food with catla and rohu. 
References 
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22 
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Impact of chapila in polyculture 
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23 


Impact of chapila (Gudusia chapra Ham.) on growth of carps in polyculture

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Impact of chapila (Gudusia chapra Ham.) on growth of carps in polyculture

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