Productivity Improvement of Milkfish and Seaweed Polyculture using Vermicomposting Fertilizer from Sources of Waste
Andi Rahmad Rahim1, Rosmarlinasiah2, Ruhumuddin S.3

1Andi Rahmad Rahim, Lecturer Aquaculture Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik, Indonesia.
2Rosmarlinasiah, Lecturer Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Halu Oleo Kendari. Indonesia.
3Ruhumuddin S, Lecturer Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Islamic Makassar, Indonesia.

Manuscript received on 15 August 2019. | Revised Manuscript received on 25 August 2019. | Manuscript published on 30 September 2019. | PP: 1377-1381 | Volume-8 Issue-3 September 2019 | Retrieval Number: B3501078219/19©BEIESP | DOI: 10.35940/ijrte.B3501.098319
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: Polyculture cultivation depends on the balance of several factors. Seaweed functions as a supplier of oxygen, protection for milkfish from predators, and an absorber of the dissolved CO2 from the respiration of the milkfish. In turn, the milkfish waste was used as nutrients by the seaweed. This research was carried out in Ujungpangkah Pond, Gresik District, East Java. The objective of the study was to increase pond productivity using vermicompost fertilizer from various wastes in a seaweed and milkfish polyculture system. The treatment was using food waste, Alang-Alang (Imperata) waste, banana stems, and a combination of all wastes were used to produce the vermicompost. The polyculture system used milkfish and the seaweed Gracilaria verrucosa and was cultivated for 42 days. It was found that the highest carbon uptake (717.77 ppm/day) by G. Verrucosa was with no added organic waste; the highest nitrogen uptake (16.47 ppm/day) was with combined organic waste, and the highest phosphorus uptake (19.17 ppm/day) was with feed waste. The highest daily specific growth rate (6.21%/day) of the milkfish was with banana stem waste. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was 1.04–1.26. This small FCR showed that seaweed could be used as an alternative feed source for milkfish within a polyculture system.
Keywords: Polyculture, Vermicompost, Milkfish, Seaweed, Growth, Nutrient Uptake

Scope of the Article:
Bio-Science and Bio-Technology