Growth Performance and Nutritional Quality of Nile tilapia Caged in Northern Benin Water Reservoirs Exposed to Agricultural Effluents

Abstract

Water reservoirs, widespread in northern Benin providing fish for consumption to the near-by population, are exposed to agricultural pesticides from cotton production. To highlight their aquaculture potential, a 120-days experiment was conducted on growth performance and nutritional quality of Oreochromis niloticus (7.00 ± 0.06 g). A 2 X 2 factorial design with water reservoirs (Batran and Songhaï chosen as site polluted by pesticides and a reference environment, respectively) and cage culture systems (Cage bottom on Seaground, CBOS and cage bottom above Seaground, CBAS) was used.Transparency and dissolved oxygen's means values were significantly higher in Songhaï (P