Investigation of the effect of water and feed sourced boron on the growth performance and blood parameters of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of water and feed-derived boron on the growth performance and blood parameters of Nile tilapia fingerlings. Two different experiments were designed for this purpose. The first phase of the study determined the LC₅₀ (96-h) value of boron for Nile tilapia. Fish were then fed in water containing boron at a ratio of 1:20 of the LC₅₀ value. In the second experiment, feed containing boron at different rates (0.00%, 0.01%, 0.05%, and 0.10%) was fed for 40 days. At the end of the feeding period, growth performance, hematology, and blood biochemistry parameters were determined. The study concluded with a calculated LC₅₀ value of 161.053 mg/L boron for Nile tilapia. The initial weight was 12.51 ± 0.79 g; at the end of feeding, the final weights were determined as 26.36 ± 0.15 g for the control and 28.07 ± 0.23, 32.28 ± 0.25 and 24.81 ± 0.48 g for 0.01%, 0.05% and 0.10% of boron feed treatments, respectively. At the end of feeding in water containing boron, the final weight of Nile tilapia was determined as 24.26 ± 0.26 g (LC₅₀/20%). The results showed that feeding Nile tilapia with 0.05% boron-supplemented feed stimulated growth and positively affected blood parameters, whereas waterborne boron inhibited Nile tilapia growth and negatively affected blood parameters.