Evaluation of nutritional composition of Water lily (Nymphaea lotus Linn.) From tatabu flood plain, North-central, Nigeria
National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria
Mohammed, H.A., National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria; Uka, U.N., National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria; Yauri, Y.A.B., National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria
The high cost of fish feed especially in the developing countries has led to the dwindling economic fortunes on aquaculturists and slow pace of expansion of intensive fish culture in the underdeveloped world. To forestall this challenge, efforts are now geared towards theuse of non-conventional fish feed, thus making aquaculture more cost effective to farmers. One of the options is the use of aquatic macrophytes. In this study, the nutritional potential of the plant parts (leaves, petiole, root, rhizome) and seeds of Water lily harvested from Tatabu flood plainlwetlands were evaluated through proximate compositions and analyzed in percentages. Moisture content was highest in the rhizome (20.40+1.241) while the seeds gave the lowest value of (4.18+0.176). The highest value for Ash content was observed in the root (27.36+1.261) and the seeds gave the lowest (2.81+0.498). Highest value for the Crude fat was obtained from the seeds (9.95+0.637) while the petiole gave the lowest value of (2.27+0.377). The crude protein and crude fibre values were highest in the leaves 19.54S.782 and 15.53S.448, respectively while the lowest was obtained in the seeds 3.27+0.104 and 1.60+0.200, respectively. There was a significant differences among the parts analyzed for the Ash content (p<0.05). The NFE varied from 31.21+2.176 to 78.15+1.418. This study suggests that Water lily could be a good source of protein for incorporation in fish diet. © 2013 Academic Journals Inc.
