Application of Biofloc Technology for the culture of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) in Bangladesh: stocking density, floc volume, growth performance, and profitability

• Published in: Aquaculture international Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 1047 - 1070
• Main Authors: Shamsuddin, Md, Hossain, M. Belal, Rahman, Moshiur, Kawla, Mst. Salamun, Shufol, Md. Badiul Alam, Rashid, Muhammad Mamunur, Md. Asadujjaman, Rakib, Md. Refat Jahan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-04-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ammonia; Aquaculture; Aquaculture products; Biofloc technology; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbon; Catfish; Dissolved oxygen; Economics; Efficiency; Feed conversion; Fingerlings; Fish; Fish stocking; Food; Food conversion; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Freshwater fishes; Growth rate; Heteropneustes fossilis; Investments; Life Sciences; Nitrogen dioxide; Potassium; Proteins; Restocking; Stocking density; Sustainable development; Sustainable Development Goals; SWOT analysis; Tanks; Technology; Water quality; Zoology; Bangladesh; Profitability; Biofloc Technology; Growth performance; Water quality parameters; Business feasibility
• ISSN: 0967-6120; 1573-143X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10499-022-00849-z

Though Biofloc Technology is a new concept in Bangladesh, it provides advantages for improving aquaculture production in many countries, leading to achieve sustainable development goals. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of stocking densities on the growth performance of stinging catfish (
Heteropneustes fossilis
) under Biofloc Technology and assess the economic prospects and business feasibilities. Fingerlings were stocked in unique 5000-L tanks with three stocking densities, i.e., 3500 fish/tank (Treatment-I), 4000 fish/tank (Treatment-II), 4500 fish/tank (Treatment-III). The treatments showed significant differences (
P
 < 0.05) considering the species-specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio. Treatment-I had significantly ((
P 
< 0.05) higher final biomass (29.51 ± 0.04 kg/m
3
) than the other treatments. The present findings revealed that using a lower stocking density, the Biofloc Technology reduced ammonia (NH
3
), nitrite (NO
2
), nitrate (NO
3
), TDS, and floc volume but significantly increased the dissolved oxygen. As a result, Treatment-I had generated significantly higher net income (BANGLADESHI TAKA—BDT 86,278.90) over the other treatments. Moreover, the NPV, net BCR, and RoR with 4% and 9% opportunity cost were also significantly higher in Treatment-I than other treatments. The internal rate of return (IRR) and SWOT analysis index indicates that investing in Biofloc Technology is far superior, and a stocking density of 3500 fish/tank (Treatment-I) resulted in a faster investment return.