Influence of Soil on Biodegradation of Organic Wastes and Production of Live Fish Food Organisms

Abstract

In the biodegradation process, role of soil in waste treatment was evaluated. For this purpose, 50% domestic sewage, 750 mg l -1 sewage sludge and 500 mg l -1 night soil were selected for treatment. Each of these treatments was inoculated with four brooders of cladoceran for their multiplication and their subsequent performance was assessed for a period of 30 days. Presence of soil definitely increased the production of cladoceran. As such, the highest (5600 l -1) cladoceran population was noticed in culture systems having soil bed and treated with domestic sewage while the lowest (20 l -1) being in control. The results have depicted significant role of soil in maintaining favourable water quality condi- tions for good aquaculture. The concentration of organic carbon, phosphorus, nitrate-nitrogen and ammonia-nitrogen reduced significantly (p <0.05) in each culture medium from the initial levels. The study suggests that soil could be used in live fish food culture system that is helpful in waste recycling.