Miracle Abieyuwa JESUOROBO

The quality of meat is affected by the nutrition of the fish. Recently, most Tilapia farmers have developed the habit of feeding fish with Lemna minor in order to reduce the quantity of feed used to rear fish. This study investigated the effect of Lemna minor (duckweed) supplementation in culture water on the proximate and mineral composition of Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia). Fingerlings were cultured for 12 weeks in a completely randomized design with four treatments: T0 (control, commercial feed only), T1 (1/2 commercial feed fed in T0 + duckweed), T2 (same quantity of commercial feed fed in T0 + duckweed), and T3 (duckweed only). Each treatment was replicated three times, with 50 fish per 2000 L tank. Fish were harvested at the end of the 12 weeks culture period, filleted, and analyzed for proximate composition (moisture, protein, fat, ash, crude fibre, and carbohydrate) and mineral content (Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Zn) using standard AOAC and ISO procedures. The results of the study showed significant difference (P<0.05) across all proximate and mineral parameters. Moisture (77.86±0.06%) and carbohydrate (0.96±0.02%) were highest in T3, while crude protein (18.99±0.04%) and fat (6.36±0.04%) were highest in T1. Ash and fibre were moderately increased in duckweed treated groups. Mineral analysis revealed the highest concentrations in T3 for Ca (3.2065±0.0053 mg/g), P (9.8102±0.0053 mg/g), Mg (1.1670±0.0036 mg/g), K (3.1050±0.0055 mg/g), Na (0.8926±0.0047 mg/g), Fe (0.0338±0.00008 mg/g), and Zn (0.0232±0.00004 mg/g) The results demonstrate that Lemna minor serves as a natural bioenhancer, improving the nutritional and mineral quality of O. niloticus through nutrient recycling and water enrichment. The integration of duckweed into aquaculture systems presents a sustainable, cost effective, and eco-friendly strategy to enhance fish growth, flesh quality, and overall nutritional value for consumers.