In order to assess the growth and yield of different fish species during dry period, an experiment was conducted in the Aquaculture Farm of Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan from 1 April to 10 July, 2021. The experiment included three treatments: T1 (Carp polyculture), T2 (Common carp Cyprinus carpio monoculture) and T3 (Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus monoculture), each with three replications. Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix 7%), Bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis 20%), Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella 13%), Rohu (Labeo rohita 30%), Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala 10%) and Common carp (20%) were stocked at densities of 1,400, 4,000, 2,600, 4,000, 6,000 and 2,000 fish/ha, respectively. Stocking density of Common carp and Nile tilapia was 20,000 fish/ha. Fish were fed with sinking pellet (28% crude protein) at the rate of 3% of body weight. Gross and net fish yield was significantly higher in T3 (89.89±0.67 t/ha/yr,16±0.25 t/ha/ yr) than in T2 (4.88±0.38 t/ha/yr, 4.05±0.35 t/ha/yr) due to higher (p<0.05) survival in T3 (72.5±11.3 %) than in T2 (40.6±4.5 %). Gross margin was significantly higher in T3 (1,257,482±186,600 NRs./ha/yr) than in T2 (434,250±124,753 NRs./ha/yr). Based on higher survival, yield and gross margin, Nile tilapia monoculture is suitable for dry season.
Peer-reviewed publication