SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN THE PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF NURSE TETRA (BRYCINUS NURSE) FROM ALAU LAKE MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the proximate composition of Brycinus nurse from Alau Lake in Maiduguri, Nigeria at different periods of the year (wet season, dry season and harmattan periods). The moisture, protein, fat and ash contents, crude fibre and dry matter were determined using the international accepted methods of AOAC for the analysis. The average moisture content for periods varied from 62.50 to 71.36 % with wet season having the highest value followed by harmattan period and least in dry season. The protein content ranges from 14.00 to 32.56 % with dry season with the highest value, followed by harmattan period and wet season had the least value. The fat content for harmattan period was 40.00 % as the highest followed by wet season 23.00 % and least in dry season 10.00%. The ash content wet season 1.5% was the highest value and dry season and harmattan period I.0 % was least. Crude fibre was highest in harmattan period 45.00 %, followed by dry season 29.00 % and wet season was least at 23.00 %. Dry matter was highest in dry season 37.50 %, followed by harmattan period 36.68 % and wet season had the least value of 28.00 %. However, statistical analysis showed no significant difference at p˂0.05 level of significance. Conclusively, the period of year has effect on the proximate composition of Brycinus nurse in Alau Lake. Keywords: Moisture, Protein, Ash, Season, Rainy, Heat, Harmattan, Nurse tetra, Alau Lake, Maiduguri