Effectiveness of eco enzyme liquid on the growth of Catfish (Pangasius djambal) raised in peat soil fish ponds

Eco enzymes are derived from the fermentation of organic matter, particularly fruit and vegetable peels, offering the advantage of being a versatile natural cleaning solution. They also serve as essential nutrients for plant and algae growth, while converting CO2 into carbon trioxide (CO3), which benefits marine plants and aquatic life. This study aimed to investigate the impact of providing alternative feed/companion in the form of eco enzyme liquid, composed of 90% organic matter from three types of fruit peels and 10% vegetable residues from fern plants, on the growth of Pangasius djambal in conventional fish ponds with peat water. The implementation of 1 litre of ecoenzyme per 100 ml of peat water in the fish ponds led to the enhancement of Pangasius djambal, resulting in increased weight and varying lengths. The correlation coefficient (>1) indicates a strong relationship between fish weight and length, suggesting that the total weight of the fish is directly proportional to its length. Moreover, the water quality standards, including physical, chemical, and biological parameters, in the conventional fish enlargement ponds with peat soil pond water type were well-maintained, preventing contamination from feed residues and fish feces, even after 28 days of fish enlargement.


Introduction
Eco enzymes are created through the fermentation of organic matter [1,2], specifically leftover peels from fruits and vegetables [3,4,5].These eco enzymes can be produced by individuals or communities.In Indonesia, the concept of self-sufficiency in waste management aligns with Article 12 of Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management.This law emphasizes the responsibility of every individual to reduce and manage household waste and similar waste in an environmentally sustainable manner [6,7].Achieving environmentally sustainable waste reduction involves minimizing waste production, recycling or reusing waste, and utilizing materials that can naturally decompose [8,9].
As stated by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the total waste generated in Indonesia in 2021 amounted to 2,188 million tons [10].The largest contributor to this waste generation, accounting for 42.23%, is households.Out of the total household waste generated, only 55.87% has been properly disposed of, while the remaining 44.13% remains unattended and unprocessed [11,12].This accumulation of unmanaged household waste presents a significant challenge for major cities across Indonesia.KLHK has established a target to reduce household waste generation by 30% by 2025, aiming for a nationwide reduction of 70%.To achieve this, various measures are being implemented, including the restriction of plastic usage and the promotion of recycling for both inorganic and organic waste materials.
The idea that nature alone can cope with waste management is no longer tenable.The government plays a crucial role as the initiator and facilitator of an efficient, effective, and sustainable waste management program that involves community participation [13,14].Urban communities, particularly households, have an active role to play by willingly managing their own household waste.It is essential for Indonesia to establish a waste management system that prioritizes volume reduction through community participation and emphasizes the conservation of waste resources.This system should be low-cost, technically uncomplicated, and easily operated.Community participation in waste management can include practices like composting and fermenting organic matter to produce eco enzyme liquids.The production of eco enzymes proves highly beneficial in reducing the volume of organic waste at its source, managing waste to prevent unpleasant odours in the environment, and minimizing the production of methane gas that contributes to environmental pollution during the decomposition process [15,16].
After a 3-month fermentation process, the end product is a liquid ranging from light brown to dark brown, characterized by a fresh aroma typical of fermentation, and with a pH below 4.0 [17].The eco enzyme liquids offer several advantages as natural, all-purpose cleaning solutions that do not have an expiration date.The manufacturing process of eco enzymes releases ozone gas (O 3 ), which aids in reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) levels in the atmosphere, thereby mitigating the greenhouse effect and global warming [18].Furthermore, this natural hormone has the capability to convert ammonia (NH 4 ) into nitrate (NO 3 ), which serves as a vital nutrient for plant growth and algae [19].Additionally, it can convert CO 2 into carbon trioxide (CO 3 ), which proves beneficial for marine plants and aquatic life [20].
One of the organic waste issues that require attention is the growing utilization of high-protein artificial fish feeds in cage and pond rearing systems.The intensive use of fish feed in these systems leads to the rapid buildup of feed residues, organic substances, and nitrogen compounds, which in turn pollute the pond water.The pollution of fish pond water can be attributed to the fact that fish only utilize approximately 20-30% of the nutrients from the feed [21], while the remaining portion accumulates in the water.As a result, the ammonia content in the feed accounts for about 75% of the nitrogen presents [22].Furthermore, aquaculture ponds also generate solid fecal matter, which comprises approximately 45% of the total weight of fish production.
Freshwater fish farming in Central Kalimantan has a promising potential for development due to its favourable characteristics.The region possesses a peat swamp ecosystem covered with vegetation and is home to various specific fish species, making it suitable for the establishment of fishing operations using both cage techniques and freshwater fish ponds.The production and demand for catfish experienced a notable increase in 2021, reaching 33,567.14tons, which signifies a growth rate of 7.86% compared to 2020 [23].This growth in catfish production is accompanied by the involvement of 42,523 fish farmers.Furthermore, there has been an increase in the number of fish ponds, particularly in Palangka Raya city.In 2019, there were 915 fish ponds, and this number rose to 1,023 fish ponds in 2020 [23].
Proper management is crucial in freshwater fish farming, particularly in terms of regulations and the dependency on imported fish feed from other regions.Exploring and developing alternative method for fish production and feeding using locally available resources is worth considering.One such approach involves recycling and fermenting organic waste, such as kitchen vegetable and fruit peels, to create eco enzyme liquids.This experiment is beneficial to assess the effectiveness of eco enzyme liquids as a fish feed supplement for inland fisheries, specifically for fish ponds with a peat bottom.Then, it can be utilized to evaluate the impact of eco enzyme liquids on fish growth, which is a critical parameter in fish farming, especially for economically valuable fish species, as growth directly influences production value.Growth can be measured as an increase in length or weight within a specified timeframe [24].
Pangasius djambal, a species of freshwater fish belonging to the catfish group, is a highly valuable commodity [25] that plays a significant role in enhancing fisheries productivity.This particular species of catfish holds a substantial market share, both domestically and internationally.It is relatively easy to farm as Pangasius djambal can adapt to stagnant water conditions without the presence of oxygen [26].This adaptability is primarily attributed to the presence of a breathing structure known as a labyrinth, which enables the fish to extract oxygen from the air.Additionally, catfish exhibit a positive response to supplementary feeding and have a relatively fast growth rate.In just six months, they can reach a size suitable for consumption, typically measuring 35-40 centimetres in length.If the findings of this study prove conclusive, it is recommended to introduce the novelty value to fish farmers and explore the potential for mass production to meet other agricultural needs.
The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of giving alternative/companion feed, consisting of 90% organic matter derived from three different fruit peels (Citrus sinensis Osb, Ananas comosus, and Citrullus lanatus), along with 10% vegetable residues from fern plants (Stenochlaena palutris and Diplazium esculentum), on the growth of Pangasius djambal cultivated in peat water ponds.

Materials and Methods
This research is an experimental study that involves the entire fish population as the sample.It examines two variables: the eco enzyme liquid dosage, denoted as Y, with a ratio of 1 litre per 100 litres of fish pond water, and the fish growth variables, represented by X1 for fish weight in grams and X2 for fish length in centimetres.The measurements of fish weight and length are conducted at three time points: prior to the eco enzyme application, 14 days after the application, and 28 days after the application.
The research was conducted between November and December 2022.The fish were housed in traditional ponds located in the wet laboratory of the Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture University of Palangka Raya.Each pond was filled with 200 litres of peat water and stocked with 50 catfish fingerlings.In the control pond (KG0), only the recommended fish pellets were provided, while in the peat groundwater ponds (KG1), in addition to the fish pellets, eco enzyme liquid was administered at a dosage of 1 litre per 100 litres of pond water, following the recommended guidelines.The fish were allowed to grow for 28 days without replacing the pond water.The length of the fish was measured using analytical scales and measuring rods/callipers.The collected data will be processed and analysed using a two-dimensional similarity test, specifically the t-test.

Results and Discussion
The results of observing the weight and length of the fish in this study are shown in Figure 1.Table 1 presents the comparison of fish weight (in gram) and fish length (in centimetre) between the two average values at 14 days following the introduction of the eco enzyme (EE), assessed using a t-test.Similarly, Table 2 displays the examination of fish weight (in gram) and fish length (in centimetre) for the similarity of the two average values using a t-test after 28 days since the introduction of the eco enzyme (EE).The t-test, which was used to compare the averages of two groups, indicated that the catfish displayed a higher weight and varied lengths after 28 days of introducing eco enzymes.The correlation coefficient greater than 1 for tilapia suggests a strong association between fish weight and length, indicating that the increase in weight is attributed to the growth in length.This implies that the overall weight of the fish is directly proportional to the increase in its length.
The introduction of eco enzymes in peat water fish augmentation ponds resulted in a significantly higher growth rate of fish compared to ponds where only fish pellets were administered.After 28 days, the fish in the eco enzyme-treated ponds showed a 1.19% increase in length and a 1.36% increase in weight, whereas the ponds with only fish pellets had a 1.11% increase in length and a 0.93% increase in weight.This substantial difference demonstrates the effectiveness of eco enzymes in promoting catfish growth.In the peat groundwater ponds, where fish feed enriched with eco enzymes is provided, beneficial bacteria from the Streptococcus and Lactobacillus groups, including Lactobacillus sp, are present.These probiotic bacteria, commonly found in the digestive tract of humans and animals [27], contribute to the absorption of nutrients and produce organic acids that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestine.The higher population of lactic acid bacteria colonies resulting from the eco enzyme treatment supports these beneficial effects [28].
Eco enzymes have the ability to convert undissolved organic compounds into dissolved organic compounds [29].Eco enzymes contain enzymes such as protease, amylase, and lipase, which play a crucial role in breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids during the decomposition process [30].In the context of this study, these enzymes aid in the decomposition of organic compounds derived from both food residues and pre-existing materials present in the original medium of the peat soil fish pond.
After 28 days of monitoring, the collected data indicate that the water quality in the fish enlargement ponds meets the standards.The parameters that conform to the standards are as follows: BOC (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) at 5 mgl -1 , COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) at 27 mgl -1 , DO (Dissolved Oxygen) at 3.02 mgl -1 , pH at 7, temperature at 25°C, colour at 99 Pt-Co (Platinum-Cobalt units), dissolved solids at 3.02 mgl -1 , E. coli count at 9,100 MPN (Most Probable Number) per 100 ml, phosphorus (P) at 3.8 mgl -1 , ammonia at 25 mgl -1 , and odourless water in the expansion tank.These values demonstrate that the water quality remains within the standard range set for the original fish augmentation water before conducting the study, which had the following parameters: BOC at 5 mgl -1 , COD at 24 mgl -1 , DO at 4.13 mgl -1 , pH at 7, temperature at 25°C, colour at 389 Pt-Co, dissolved solids at 4.13 mgl -1 , E. coli count at 23,000 MPN per 100 ml, phosphorus (P) at 1.9 mgl -1 , ammonia at 39 mgl -1 , and odourless water in the extension pool.
Based on the laboratory tests conducted to evaluate the water quality standards in the Catfish enlargement pond, it can be inferred that eco enzymes have demonstrated their efficacy in treating fish pond water.They effectively maintain and improve the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the fish pond for a period of 28 days, preventing the degradation of water quality caused by the accumulation of feed residues and fish feces.Notably, eco enzymes also exhibit the ability to reduce the growth of pathogenic E. coli bacteria by up to 2.53 times compared to the initial levels.

Conclusion
The application of eco enzymes in peat water ponds, with a dosage of 1 liter per 100 ml of pond water, has proven to enhance the weight and length of Pangasius djambal after duration of 28 days.The application of ecoenzymes exhibits a strong correlation with the weight and length of Pangasius djambal.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Fish weight (gram) and fish length (cm) tested for similarity two mean values with ttest after 14 and 28 days after EE implementation.

Table 1 .
Fish weight (gram) and fish length (cm) tested for similarity of two mean values with t-test at 14 days after implementation of EE

Table 2 .
Fish weight (gram) and fish length (cm) tested for similarity of two mean values with t-test at 28 days after implementation of EE