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A year old traditional aquaculture practice, administration of cow dung on fresh water fish culture ponds
has brought out several admirable results from the past till today. The proper levels of administration and
after effects of hyper administration are the challenges being faced by these aquaculture practitioners.
This work aims at finding out the proper levels of cow dung to be added on to the culture systems along
with the growth and multiplication of phytoplankton and there by zooplankton. The study was conducted
in six glass tanks of 25l capacity, for a period of three months. Among these six tanks, the first five tanks
were provided with different levels of cow dung quantities viz 100g, 200g, 300g, 400g and 500g. The sixth
tank was kept as control. All the six tanks were filled with 10l water containing pure culture of Chlorella
sp. (comprising 26 cells ml-1) and into all these six tanks ten cells each of Daphnia sp. was introduced on
the first day of study itself. The tanks were provided with proper aeration. After two weeks a few sub
samples were taken from the tanks and observed. The results showed a noticeable growth performance in
tank three followed by tank two. The fourth and fifth tanks were totally collapsed due to water quality
deterioration. Hence for the better result on the growth of phytoplankton and zooplankton, proper
quantity of cow dung as well as proper water quality should be maintained. This study will give thrust to
the aquaculture sector and for optimum production.
Key words: aquaculture, cow dung, phytoplankton, zooplankton, chlorella sps., daphnia sps.