Growth, survival, biomass production and body composition of striped grey mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) fingerlings were evaluated in two pond experimental trials as a function of two stocking densities and three management systems in brackishwater pond rearing. The three management systems tested were feeding, fertilization and combined fertilization-feeding. The Experiment 1 had a 2 x 2 factorial design with two levels of stocking density and two types of pond management system (feeding and fertilization) resulting in four treatments in triplicates: stocking density 1 + feeding (S1F1), stocking density 1 + fertilization (S1F2), stocking density 2 + feeding (S2F1) and stocking density 2 + fertilization (S2F2). Twelve ponds (600 m2 each) were stocked with grey mullet fry (0.17 +/- 0.02 g/23.81 +/- 0.6 mm) at 7500 number ha(-1) in treatments S1F1, and S1F2 and at 15,000 number ha(-1) in treatments S2F1, and S2F2. In Experiment 2, three different pond management systems evaluated as three treatments (in triplicate ponds) were FR: fingerling rearing with fertilization; FD: fingerling rearing with feeding and F: fingerling rearing with combination of fertilization + feeding. Nine ponds (600 m(2) each) under the three treatments were stocked with grey mullet fry (0.55 +/- 0.08 g/36.0 +/- 2.1 mm) at 15,000 number ha(-1). In S1F1, S2F1, FD and F, formulated feed containing 27.5% crude protein was provided at 3.5-20% body weight daily, whereas, in S1F2, S2F2, FR and F systems, ponds were fertilized fortnightly with cattle manure, urea and single super phosphate at 500, 30 and 30 kg ha(-1), respectively. In Experiment 1, although stocking density and application of feed or fertilization did not affect the growth parameters, survival and apparent feed conversion ratio (P > 0.05) of grey mullet, coefficient of variation at harvest weight (CVhw) and total harvested biomass were influenced by feeding or fertilization (P < 0.05). In Experiment 2, significantly better growth. lower CVhw and higher total harvested fish biomass were obtained in fishes of FF compared with that of FR and FD (P < 0.05). From the pond trials it can be concluded that combined fertilization-feeding system with a stocking density of 15,000 fry ha(-1) would be appropriate for production of striped grey mullet fingerlings in brackishwater ponds. The present findings indicate feasibility of establishing M. cephalus seed rearing practice using a cost-effective and resource-efficient approach. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
