Production potential of greater duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza (L. Schleiden) and its biochemical composition evaluation

Citation

Sharma JG, Clark WD, Shrivastav AK, Goswami RK, Tocher DR & Chakrabarti R (2019) Production potential of greater duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza (L. Schleiden) and its biochemical composition evaluation. Aquaculture, 513, Art. No.: 734419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734419

Abstract
The culture technique of greater duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza (L. Schleiden) was standardized in outdoor tanks using three different manures: manure 1 - cattle manure, poultry droppings and mustard oil cake, manure 2 - urea, potash and triple superphosphate and manure 3 - cattle manure, urea, potash and triple superphosphate. Significantly (p   <  .05) higher production was recorded in manure 1 compared to others. Manure 1 was subsequently selected for pond culture. In ponds, the production of duckweed was 2020 ± 150 kg ha−1 month−1 dry weight basis. Protein content was significantly higher (p  <  .05) in duckweed cultured in manure 1. The amino acid profile study showed the presence of essential (37.4%), non-essential (58.2%) and free (4.5%) amino acids. Leucine, isoleucine and valine contributed 51.4% of total essential amino acids. Duckweed contained 7% lipid and α-linolenic acid (36–37%) was the major fatty acid. The study showed the nutritional value of duckweed as an animal feed ingredient.

Keywords
Spirodela polyrhiza; Organic manure; Proximate composition; Amino acids; Fatty acids

Journal
Aquaculture: Volume 513