THE STUDY EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF LACTIC ACID-FERMENTED WATER HYACINTH AS A FISH MEAL REPLACER IN AQUA FEED

The aquatic weed Pontederia crassipes Mart. (formerly Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solm) commonly known as common water hyacinth is indigenous to South America. However, it is frequently described as a poisonous beauty because of its stunning purple flowers. It can be anchored in mud or it can float freely on the surface of freshwaters, where it can dwell and reproduce. It is widely spreading throughout temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions, making it one of the most noxious aquatic weeds (Dagno et al., 2007). The water hyacinth's intricate root structure and quick rate of reproduction cause it to frequently produce dense, interconnecting mats (Mitchell, 1985). To check the efficacy of raw and lactic acid fermented water hyacinth as a possible fish meal replacer. The plant material was cut into small pieces and was sun-dried until water content dropped to 50%. Distilled water was added into the water hyacinth in the ratio of 1:1 (Amit et al., 2009). Overnight culture of Lactobacillus plantarum in MRS broth (19.5% v/w) and sugar (20% w/w) were added. Common salt (2% w/w) was added to check the growth of spoilage microbes. Fermented water hyacinth leaf meal has been shown to improve growth performance in fish species, with inclusion rates of up to 40% yielding favorable results. The integration of water hyacinth into fish feed not only offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional feed ingredients but also contributes to environmental management by mitigating the adverse impacts of its overgrowth in aquatic systems.