Growth Performance and Yield of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)) under Different Stocking Densities and Fertilization Scenarios in Earthen Pond Culture

This experiment was conducted to explore the effects of chemical and organic fertilizers at different levels of stocking density on the growth performance and yield of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)) in earthen pond culture in southwestern Ethiopian highland located at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level. The ponds were divided into control and treatment with diammonium phosphate (DAP) and poultry manure application at three levels of stocking densities as 1, 2 and 3 fish m-2 in a completely randomized design. All the experimental ponds had two replicates. The fertilizers were applied to the treatment ponds at a rate of 2 g m-2 per week for 150 days. Juveniles with mean initial weight of 20.9