*2.5.3. Nutrition and supplemental feeding of aquatic cultural species*

*2.5.1. Water management*

**Livestock integrated with rice-**

**aquaculture system**

22 Aquaculture - Plants and Invertebrates

**S. no.**

Water plays an important role in any agricultural system. Continuous water supply is badly needed for RAF. The source of water (river, pond, well or bore) is the first parameter one should think of before establishing the integrated system. Uninterrupted water supply

6 Poultry Egg and chicken Otubusin [49], Oladosu et al. [51], Momoh and

**Product produced from livestock**

1. Duck Eggs and meat Syamsiah et al. [47] 2. Golden apple snails Meat Halwart [28]; FAO [48]

**Table 1.** The livestock integrated systems with rice and/or aquaculture in Asian countries.

3. Cows and buffalos Milk and meat Otubusin [49] 4. Pigs Meat Prein [50] 5. Sheep and goat Milk and meat Otubusin [49]

**Figure 6.** Integrated subsystems of traditional rice-aquaculture in Asia.

**Reference**

Norman [52]

The rice ecosystem is rich with natural flora and fauna. Naturally the rice ecosystem itself is a rich nutrient supplement for aquatic cultural species. The phytoplanktons and bacteria are the first developers in the rice field and later weeds (macrophyton, benthos and detritus), and zooplankton will develop. All these are directly consumed by the aquatic species. Usually, farmers enrich the natural nutrients of aquatic species by supplementation of fertilizers. An alternative to have natural supplementation in RAF is by raising a fern azolla. Azolla is the best natural feed for fish, but not for crustaceans. Anyhow, this naturally occurring food is not sufficient for growing aquatic culture species. The consumption and utilization of natural field nutrients vary from aquatic culture species to species [24]. So, the external supplementation of nutrients is a must for attaining higher yield of aquatic protein.

**5.** Aquatic excreta and the waste generated during culturing provide organic fertilization

Integrated Rice and Aquaculture Farming http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78062 25

**6.** Reduced usage of external fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides ultimately provides

**7.** The additional production of quality aquatic protein for nourishing people suffering

**8.** The ASp movement and foraging in the rice field increase the dissolved oxygen, thereby

**9.** Rice and aquatic protein produced are hassle-free and organic, which may reduce the

**10.** The external quench may provide place for growing organic onion, sweet potato, bean, ladies finger, tomato, variety of green leaves and other vegetables, which provide addi-

**12.** The wastage of nutrients supplemented for the rice are prevented, since the microalgae, the competitors for nutrients with rice in the field, are controlled by ASp which they

**15.** The seed of ASp is produced during integrated system and is used for the next cycle of culture.

**1.** Rice-aquaculture system is restricted only to the areas where surplus water is available. **2.** Greater amount of water supply to RAF may increase the water scarcity for human

**4.** Only specified rice species tolerant of deep water/saline water and low temperatures can

**6.** The area of rice field is reduced due to ponds/trenches/refuges constructed for ASp.

**8.** The pesticides and herbicides are restricted to use and may reduce the production of rice. **9.** Abnormal change in the temperature, low dissolved oxygen, inadequate place and occurrence of birds catching the ASp lead to 20–60% loss in ASp production.

**7.** Additional amount of fertilizers and feeding costs more than rice culture alone.

**13.** The reduction of rice yield up to 50% by the aquatic weeds is controlled by ASp.

**14.** The ASp fed on insects controls the pest effect on rice and increased yield.

occurrence of several diseases caused by polluted environment and food.

**11.** The wastelands or land not under usage for cultivation becomes fertile.

which improves the rice yield up to 15%.

increasing photosynthesis and rice production.

**b.** Limitations/disadvantages of rice-aquaculture farming:

**3.** Labor required more than rice culture alone.

**5.** Some aquatic species uproot or eat the rice seedlings.

usage and difficulties in getting potable water in the future.

from protein malnutrition.

tional income to the farmer.

swallow as food.

adopt this system.

pollution-free environment, thereby protecting the nature.

The composition of external feed supplemented for crustaceans/other aquatic species is a mix of 40% of animal waste (fish, snail, clam and viscera tRAFh), 25% of plant waste (rice or wheat bran, vegetables, pumpkin, leguminous cakes and sweet potatoes) and 35% of terrestrial gRAFs and/or duck weeds. These materials are made as powder and used for making food pellets. But various types of external feed are in practice in many countries [70–73].
