Abstract
Effect on the bio-mass and nutrient yield of Lemna perpusilla Torry was studied at two nutrient loading frequencies. Six polythene sinks ($6{\times}2{\times}0.5m^{3}$ area) randomly allocated to two treatments having three sinks in each treatment. Each sink containing $6{\times}2{\times}0.35m^{3}$ water body, was changed either daily with 12.6 kg anaerobically fermented cattle manure (effluent) or with 76 kg efluent at six-day interval. Media Kjeldhal-N (40 vs. 36 mg/L; p>0.05) and $NH_3$-N (9 vs 7 mg/L; p<0.05) concentration were higher in daily charged sinks than those charged at six-day interval. However, temperature ($28.48{^{\circ}C}\;vs.\;28.60{^{\circ}C}$) and pH (6.82 vs. 6.84) were sinilar in both groups of sinks. Biomass (93 vs. $80g/m^{2}/d$) and crude protein (1.24 vs. $1.11g/m^{2}/d$) yield were non-significantly (p>0.05) higher in the daily charged than 6-d interval charged ponds. However, dry matter (4.52 vs. 4.15%), organic matter (83 vs. 84%), crude protein (31.4 va. 29.6%) and organic carbon (47 vs. 47%) content were similar in both daily and 6-d interval charged ponds. There were no apparent relationships between the crude protein content of Lemna and the media Kjeldhal-N or $NH_3$-N concentration apparently due to saturated level of nutrient (N in particular). It was concluded that with the level of effluent used for two treatments, nutrient-loading frequency had no significant effect on the biomass and protein yield of Lemna. Technique described here can be used for year-round duckweed production from fermented cattle manure for feeding poultry/fish in smallholder production system.