Application of Organic Fertilizer from Lamtoro Leaves (Leucaena leucocephala) in Traditional Ponds to Enhance the Growth of Vannamei Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Abstract

One of the high-quality aquaculture products with a high market demand percentage is vannamei shrimp. The cultivation of vannamei shrimp traditionally involves spreading urea fertilizer on the soil before seeding. The use of inorganic fertilizers has drawbacks, such as high costs, which complicate shrimp cultivation, and long-term use has negative effects on soil and shrimp farming quality. Lamtoro leaves contain nitrogen, similar to urea fertilizer, and can be used as an organic fertilizer alternative in vannamei shrimp farming. The research was conducted from August to December 2024 in a shrimp pond in Pangkah Kulon village, Ujungpangkah, Gresik, East Java. This research is an experiment using a completely randomized design. Three concentrations of lamtoro leaf organic fertilizer were used, with a positive control using urea fertilizer. Each treatment was replicated three times. The organic fertilizer concentrations were 10%, 20%, and 30%. Growth observations were made over 40 days in the pond. The results showed that a 30% concentration of organic fertilizer was most effective for shrimp growth. The survival rate (SR) of shrimp in the 30% concentration was 78%, and they showed the highest average length growth of 11.62 cm. Feed efficiency at 30% concentration was also optimal, with a value of 5.29.