Proximate Composition of Selected Aquatic Macrophytes from Dandua Beel and their Ecological Significance
Asifa Najnin
Department of FRM, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Rinku Gogoi *
Department of FRM, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Imtiaz Ahmed
Department of FRM, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Jiten Sarma
Department of FRM, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Bipul Phukan
Department of FRM, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Pradip Chandra Bhuyan
Department of FEES, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Sarada Kanta Bhagabati
Department of AEM, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Arnab Narayan Ptowary
Department of FEES, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Niharika Swargiyari
Department of Fisheries, Govt of Assam, India.
Longjam Chaoba Chanu
Department of FRM, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
Chinmoyee Hazarika
Department of FRM, Faculty of Fisheries Science, Raha, Nagaon, Assam, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aquatic macrophytes play a crucial role in wetland ecosystems by contributing to nutrient cycling, primary productivity, and supporting aquatic food webs. Aquatic macrophytes were collected from selected sites of Dandua beel. Proximate analysis was carried out in the laboratory following standard AOAC protocols. The present study evaluates the proximate composition of selected macrophytes, including Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia natans, Lemna minor, Azolla pinnata, Hydrilla verticillata, Vallisneria spiralis, Ceratophyllum demersum, Typha elephantina, Ipomoea aquatica, and Alternanthera philoxeroides collected from Dandua beel. The analysis focused on key nutritional parameters such as moisture, crude protein, lipid, and fibre content to understand their ecological significance and potential application in aquaculture.
The results revealed considerable variation among species, largely influenced by their growth forms and habitat conditions. Free-floating macrophytes exhibited higher moisture content, while emergent and amphibious species showed comparatively higher fibre and protein levels. Notably, Ipomoea aquatica recorded the highest protein content, indicating its suitability as a potential supplementary feed in aquaculture systems, whereas Eichhornia crassipes showed lower protein levels but may contribute indirectly to aquatic productivity through detrital pathways. Submerged species displayed moderate nutrient composition, reflecting environmental constraints such as light availability and nutrient uptake mechanisms.
Overall, the study highlights the importance of aquatic macrophytes as valuable biological resources in wetland ecosystems and their potential role in sustainable aquaculture practices. The findings suggest that selective utilization of nutrient-rich species can enhance fish production while promoting ecological balance in wetland environments.
Keywords: Nutrient analysis, proximate composition, peak growth season, species specificity, temporal variation.