ABSTRACT

This study, though has it's core objective as boosting natural food production through the detritus food chain in aquaculture nutrition in Michael Okpara University fish farm ponds was equally designed to investigate the production of natural food in ponds fertilized with chicken dropping and meadow grass. Initially 25kg fermented meadow grass (treatment) made from (Calopognium mucunoides and chromolaena odorata) and 900g fermented chicken dropping (control) replicated, was prepared and used to fertilize (half water filled) experimental concrete ponds of 15m2and 60cm depth further fertilization was done for the 1st, 2nd and 4th 4. weeks. • The ponds sediment were sampled initially and for 1st 2nd and 4th week to determine natural production of zooplankton, bacteria, nitrogen and phosphorus. Water quality parameters like temperature, PH and dissolved oxygen were monitored and found to be at desirable level. T. test analysis of result shows that ponds fertilized with meadow grass had overall mean density of 103 zooplankton and 350, 750 bacteria species for 5 weeks duration of experiment, however pbnds fertilized with chicken dropping had the lower mean production of natural food production of 133 zooplankton and 6662.5 Bacteria species. A statistical difference of