Relative growth performance of Cyprinus carpio and Labeo rohita vis-á-vis their improved strains in integrated rice-fish culture system at high altitude terraced paddy fields

An experimental study was conducted to examine growth performance and economic feasibility of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) and Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) vis-á-vis their improved strains viz. Amur carp and Jayanti rohu, in synchronously integrated rice-fish system at high altitude terraced paddy-fields (HATPF).

The experimental fields were stocked with carp fingerlings (6.95±0.67 g) at a density of 0.6 no. m^-2 having common carp (T1), rohu (T2), Amur carp (T3) and Jayanti rohu (T4) under monoculture system, common carp+rohu (T5) and Amur carp+Jayanti rohu (T6) under polyculture. The study period was 120 days (July to November, 2022).

The study recorded average weight gain of 55.72±5.58 g and 57.08±4.05 g in monoculture and polyculture systems, respectively. Amur carp performed significantly better (p<0.05) than other species/strains. Survival rate ranges from 72% to 85% with Amur carp and common carp recorded higher survival than rohu and its strain. Through integration, about 243.2 to 350 kg ha^-1 of fish can be produced without supplementary feed and earn about Rs. 60,800 to Rs. 87,500 ha^-1 in a single crop. Amur carp and common carp were found more suitable for rearing in integrated rice-fish culture system at HATPF.