Abstract
Present trial was conducted to investigate the effect of phytase (PHY) and citric acid (CA) supplementation on minerals digestibility of Labeo rohita fingerlings fed on canola meal based diet. Nine experimental diets were prepared by supplementing CA (%) and PHY (FTU/kg) at the level of 0, 0 (control); 0, 1000; 0, 2000; 1.5, 0; 1.5, 1000; 1.5, 2000; 3, 0; 3, 1000; 3, 2000 respectively. Chromic oxide was used as inert marker in diets to estimate mineral digestibility. Fish fed on PHY supplemented diet showed higher apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC%) of Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn. Similarly, CA addition also improved (p<0.05) ADC% of Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Fe and Cu, however, ADC% of Mn and Zn remained unaffected. Also, acidification of PHY treated diet with CA significantly (p<0.05) improved the mineral digestibility performance of L. rohita. In conclusion, both the additives (CA and PHY) showed improved digestibility of minerals individually as well as in combination.