Economic Viability of Agricultural Carbon Sources on Asian Rice (Oryza sativa Lejeunia 1753.) and Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Production in a Flocponic System

Abstract

A flocponic system is a fish and plant-based system that uses carbon sources. However, the economic viability of using carbon sources for production remains unknown. Hence, the study assessed the economic viability of utilizing agricultural carbon sourc es in a flocponic system. A complete randomized design was employed in five treatments (wheat-bran, rhodes-hay, maize-cob, maize-stables, lucerne-hay, agricultural carbon sources, and a control (no carbon), each in triplicate. Each treatment and control had Nile tilapia and rice densities of 98 m-3 fry and 250 m-2 rice, respectively. The fish yield differed among the treatments and control, with lucernehay showing the highest output (2.53±0.02 kgm-3 ) and control having the lowest. The rice yield component also showed variability. Lucerne-hay had the highest grain yield of 5.70±0.25 kgm-3 , followed by wheat-bran, rhodes-hay, maize-cob, and maizestables treatments. The control yielded the lowest weight of grains and rice straws. The flocponic system's profitability varied between the treatment and control groups. Lucerne-hay, wheat-bran, and rhodes-hay generated positive net income, amounting to 1338.39, 474.69, and 266.1, respectively. The benefit-cost ratios for the lucerne-hay, wheat-bran, and Rhodes-hay treatments were greater than one, with lucerne-hay having the highest value (1.72). There was a slight variation in the expense structure ratio; wheat-bran had the lowest value of 0.88. The gross revenue ratio varied between the treatments and the control group; the control had the highest ratio of 145.39, and lucerne-hay had the lowest. The lucerne-hay, wheat-bran, rhodes-hay, and maize-cob treatments yielded a positive return on investment, while the maize-stable treatment and control had a negative return on investment. The proximate composition and cost of the carbon source may have impacted the profitability of the flocponic production. Wheat-bran, lucerne-hay, and rhodes-hay are suitable for flocponic output because of their high productivity and profitability, resulting in a favorable return on investment. These options are economically viable.