Center for Applied Research On the Environment and Sustainability (CARES), School of Science and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516, Egypt.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 May;31(22):31878-31895. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-33216-x. Epub 2024 Apr 19.
Freshwater scarcity, salinity, and poor soil fertility are the major challenges affecting both food and feed productions in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Utilization of brackish water in the production of saline-tolerant fish and valuable field crops under an integrated system is promising in the maximization of yield per crop. The aim of this study, therefore, was to (1) assess the effect of saline aquaculture wastewater on the growth, yield, forage quality, and nutritive composition of sorghum seeds and (2) assess the effect of different water qualities on the survival, growth performance, and health status of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. The experiment was conducted in a randomized completely block design of four salinity treatments with three replicates, i.e., control (freshwater mixed with inorganic fertilizers), 5000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, and 15,000 ppm. Our results indicated that although the control exhibited the highest growth (plant height, leaf number, internode number, leaf area, and soil-plant analysis development), grain, and forage yield, no significant differences were noted among the treatments. Likewise, no significant difference in the grain nutrient composition was noted among all the treatments. Assessment of the forage quality revealed improved crude protein content in the control compared to the saline treatments. However, no significant differences in the leaves and stalks fiber fractions were noted among all the treatments. Furthermore, rumen fermentation in terms of in vitro digestibility indicated no significant differences in the in vitro digestible dry matter, digestible organic matter, metabolic energy, net energy, microbial protein, short-chain fatty acids, and total dissolved nutrients among the treatments. However, rearing P. hypophthalmus in water salinities exceeding 10,000 ppm reduced the growth performance and health status of fish. Therefore, the integration of sorghum and P. hypophthalmus production in water salinities not exceeding 5000 ppm is a viable alternative to maximize brackish water productivity in freshwater-scarce regions.
淡水短缺、盐度和土壤肥力差是影响世界干旱和半干旱地区粮食和饲料生产的主要挑战。在综合系统下，利用微咸水生产耐盐鱼类和有价值的大田作物，有望最大限度地提高每茬作物的产量。因此，本研究的目的是：（1）评估咸水养殖废水对高粱种子生长、产量、饲草质量和营养成分的影响；（2）评估不同水质对 Pangasianodon hypophthalmus 存活、生长性能和健康状况的影响。该实验采用完全随机分组设计，设 4 个盐度处理，每个处理设 3 个重复，即对照（淡水与无机肥料混合）、5000ppm、10000ppm 和 15000ppm。结果表明，尽管对照处理的生长（株高、叶片数、节间数、叶面积和土壤-植物分析发展）、籽粒和饲草产量最高，但各处理间无显著差异。同样，各处理间的籽粒营养成分也无显著差异。饲草质量评估表明，与咸水处理相比，对照处理的粗蛋白含量有所提高。然而，各处理间叶片和茎秆纤维含量无显著差异。此外，就体外消化率而言，反刍发酵在体外可消化干物质、可消化有机物、代谢能、净能、微生物蛋白、短链脂肪酸和总溶解养分方面，各处理间均无显著差异。然而，在水盐度超过 10000ppm 的条件下养殖 P. hypophthalmus 会降低鱼类的生长性能和健康状况。因此，在水盐度不超过 5000ppm 的条件下，将高粱和 P. hypophthalmus 生产相结合是在淡水稀缺地区最大限度提高微咸水资源生产力的可行选择。
