Salinity, stocking density, and their interactive effects on growth performance and physiological parameters of white-leg shrimp, Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931), reared in inland ground saline water

A 10-week experimental trial was carried out to evaluate the optimum salinity, stocking density, and their interactive effects on growth performance, feed utilisation parameters and physiological parameters of white-leg shrimp, Penaeus vannamei (1.55 & PLUSMN; 0.01 g), reared in inland ground saline water (IGSW). Each tank was considered as an experimental unit by following factorial design (3 x 4) viz. three different salinities (5 g L (-1), 10 g L-1, and 15 g L-1) and four different stocking densities (40 m(-3), 60 m(-3), 80 m(-3), and 100 m(-3)). The feeding was done three times per day with commercial shrimp feed. Significantly better growth performance, survival, and feed utilization parameters were observed in shrimp reared at the combination of the highest salinity of 15 g L-1 and the lowest stocking density of 40 m(-3) (P < 0.01). However, shrimp reared at the combination of the lowest salinity of 5 g L-1 and the highest stocking density of 100 m(-3) showed poor growth performance, less survival, and low feed utilization. Salinity and stocking density significantly affected all physiological parameters (P < 0.01). However, a significant interaction between the two factors was observed for protease, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH). The results showed that the combination of 15 g L-1 salinity and the 40 m(-3) stocking density was optimum for better growth performance, feed utilisation parameters and physiological parameters of P. vannamei reared in IGSW. In contrast, the combination of 5 g L-1 (lowest salinity) and stocking density between 60 to 100 m(-3) resulted in slow growth and a high mortality rate.

Automated summary

A 10-week experimental trial was conducted to assess the effects of salinity and stocking density on the growth performance, feed utilization parameters, and physiological parameters of white-leg shrimp. The results indicate that the combination of 15 g/L salinity and 40 m(-3) stocking density resulted in the best outcomes.