Integration of crustacean aquaculture with coastal rice farming in Vietnam

Some examples are given of integration of crustacean aquaculture into coastal rice farming in Vietnam. Freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii ) and marine shrimp culture integrated with coastal rice farming and crab (Scylla serrata ) culture in backyard ponds and ricefields are described.

Mono- and polyculture of silver barb (Puntius gonionotus) in deepwater rice systems in Bangladesh

Experiments with fish enclosures were conducted at the Deepwater Rice Farming Systems Research Site at Shuvullah, Mirzapur, Bangladesh. The objective was to study the performance of silver barb (Puntius gonionotus) called Thai sharputi or rajputi in Bangladesh in mono-and-polyculture with grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), catla (Catla catla) and rohu (Labeo rohita). Each enclosure measured 21 m x 21 m with an approximate net height of 3.5 m. The stocking densities per cubic meter were 1 fingerling for Thai sharputi monoculture (enclosure 1), and 2 fingerlings for the polyculture systems (enclosure 2 and 3). The species ratio for enclosure 2 was 0.37:0.27:0.02:0.34 (grass carp:Thai sharputi:common carp:catla) and for enclosure 3, 0.4:0.4:0.2 (catla:rohu:Thai sharputi). In monoculture (enclosure 1), Thai sharputi performed well. This relatively good production was mainly attributed to the use of appropriately sized fingerlings and rapid growth from consumption of an abundant supply of azolla in addition to feed given. For the polyculture in enclosure 2, the average weight gain of common carp was the highest (673 g) followed by grass carp (475 g) and Thai sharputi (286 g). For the polyculture in enclosure 3, the length and weight gains for Thai sharputi were almost the same as for the monoculture.

Effect of planting pattern on shading and phytoplankton photosynthesis in Bangladesh rice-fish farms

In the present study, a Border Planting (BP) pattern recommended by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council was tested against Regular Planting (RP) to assess the effect, if any, on gross phytoplankton photosynthesis and shading. A Wide Planting (WP) pattern was also included in the trial, as an extreme case, to assess the level of photosynthesis that might be obtained if some of the rice yield was sacrificed. Three rice-planting treatments, each with four replicates, using the rice variety BR16, were undertaken: (1) RP, 26 cm between rows N to S and E to W; (2) BP, 20 cm between rows N to S and alternately 21 cm and 36 cm between rows E, to W; and (3) WP, 66 cm between rows N to S and E to W. BP showed no advantage compared to RP, possibly because the rice variety used was short and thus produced relatively little shading. WP did show a benefit for phytoplankton photosynthesis, but this may not generate an increase in fish yield sufficient to justify the negative impact of rice production.

Rice-freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farms in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Aquaculture in riceland has been practiced in Mekong Delta, Vietnam for a long time and integrated rice-freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farming has become more and more popular. The integrated farming systems developed and practiced by farmers in the area to produce more food and more cash crops are presented and discussed.

Integrated rice-prawn farming in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam: a route towards sustainable and profitable farming systems?

Economic analysis and performance of the integrated rice-prawn farming systems in the Mekong Delta (Vietnam) are reviewed, including the problems and constraints of this integrated system technology.

Rice-fish-vegetable integrated farming: towards a sustainable ecosystem

An outline is given of procedures to take in order to adopt an integrated rice-fish-vegetable farming system in India. Vegetables, which are cultivated in the dikes of the system, may include Luffa acutangula, Vigna unguiculata and Phaseolus vulgaris . When the water depth of the field rises to 30-40 cm, fish fingerlings (Puntius javanicus, Cyprinus carpio and Labeo rohita ) and prawn juveniles (Macrobranchium rosenbergii ) may be stocked. The advantages of such a system are listed and include year round employment opportunities for the farm family and improved farm family income and nutrition.