Effect of locally formulated feeds on phytoplankton abundance and microbial load in catfish pond ecosystem in Arapai campus, Soroti district.
| dc.contributor.author | Omerikol, Ivan | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-09-21T12:40:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-09-21T12:40:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026 | |
| dc.description | Undergraduate Research Report | |
| dc.description.abstract | The research study evaluated the effect of locally formulated feeds on phytoplankton abundance and Microbial load in African catfish pond ecosystem at Busitema University, Arapai campus, Soroti district in Uganda. The study took a period of six weeks and the treatments design was a completely randomized method for the two treatments which were locally formulated feeds T1 and the commercial feeds T2. The locally formulated feeds made up of soy bean, blood meal, maize bran and cassava flour as for the commercial feeds used as control experiment. Each treatment had three replicate and forty samples that is forty fingerlings per replicate which were purchased from Kikota integrated fish farm. The experimental samples were collected on weekly basis form the different experimental units to determine the microbial loads in CFU/ml and phytoplankton abundance evaluated using Chlorophyll-a concentration in µg/L. The data was analyzed using ANOVA and descriptive statistics were as well obtained and results are represented in tables and graphs. The results showed a general increase in phytoplankton abundance with 0.415 µg/L to approximately 2.000 µg/L of chlorophyll -a concentration in locally formulated feeds and from 0.467 µg/L to 1.966 µg/L in commercial feeds. There was also a general increase in microbial load as values ranged from 960 to 2220 CFU/ml, with the overall mean of 1512.78 ± 378.56 CFU/ml. The ANOVA findings indicate significant statistical differences among the treatments for both microbial load (F= 50.543, p ˂ 0.001) and phytoplankton abundance (F= 40.336, p ˂ 0.001). The study indicates that both locally formulated feeds of ingredients soy bean, maize bran, blood meal and cassava flour and commercial feeds are associated with the changes in phytoplankton abundance and microbial load over time. Therefore, with proper formulation technique and pond management practices, locally formulated feeds can alternatively be used as catfish feeds. Further studies should evaluate the economic benefits, longer-term effects and specific microbial and phytoplankton communities associated with locally formulated feeds. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Mr. Muyinda Robert | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Omerikol, I. (2026). Effect of locally formulated feeds on phytoplankton abundance and microbial load in catfish pond ecosystem in Arapai campus, Soroti district. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/9593 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Busitema University | |
| dc.title | Effect of locally formulated feeds on phytoplankton abundance and microbial load in catfish pond ecosystem in Arapai campus, Soroti district. | |
| dc.type | Other |