




































Agriculture and Food 

Sciences Research 
ISSN: 2411-6653 
Vol. 1, No. 1, 11-14, 2014 
http://www.asianonlinejournals.com/index.php/AESR 

  

 

* Corresponding Author 

 

 

11 

 

Effect of Drying Methods on the Nutritive Value of Some 

Aquatic Macrophytes in River Rima, North Western Nigeria 
 

Mamman, T
1*

 --- Ipinjolu, J.K
2
 --- Bilyaminu G.D

3
 

 
1,2,3

Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo, University Sokoto, Nigeria  

 

Abstract 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License 

Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

Contents 
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12 

2. Materials and Methods ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 

3. Results .................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 

4. Discussion ............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 

5. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................ 13 

References ................................................................................................................................................................................ 14 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A comparative study on the effectiveness of different drying methods on the nutrient contents of water 

hyacinth (Eichorniacrassipes) , Water lilly(Nymphae lotus) and water primrose  (Ludwigiahysopifollia 

) leavewas carried out in order to ascertain their potential  as nutrient supplements in fish feed 

formulation.  Whole components of each plant were weighted and 600g each of the leave were 

separately weighted in triplicates and was subjected to oven dying, sun drying and air drying.  Results 

of analysis indicated that oven dried leave of  Ludwigiahysopifolliahad significant (p< 0.05) high crude 

protein (15.13± 0.01) than sun dried and air dried (11.64±0.01 and 4.84±0.60), this follows the same 

trend with Eichorniacrassipes and Nymphaea lotus 12.52± 0.12 and with 11.76 ± 0.02 respectively. 

The ash, crude fiber and crude lipid contents exhibit no significant (p> 0.05) difference in the oven 

drying method of the three plants.  Moisture content differ significantly (p< 0.05) in 

Eichorniacrassipes in all the drying methods, higher values Nitrogen Free Extract was recorded in 

each drying method. The percentage composition of leaves shows that Ludwigiahysopifollia  has 

64.74% Eichorniacrassipes has 16.01% and Nymphea lotus 55.95%. The study concluded that oven 

drying recorded the best effect on the nutrients contents of the plant leaves this grossly followed by air 

and sun drying method, and also the leaves of these macrophytes can be used to substitute 

conventional carbohydrate not protein supplements in fish feeds. Further studies should be carried to 

assess the potential of these macrophytes subjected to the various drying methods in feeding cultured 

fish species. 

 
Keywords: Drying method, Nutritive values, Aquatic macrophyte. 

 

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Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2014, 1(1): 11-14 

 

 

 

 

12 

 

1. Introduction 
Nutrition is vital in fish farming because feed cost represent 40-50% of the total variable cost of production [1-

3]. For several decades fishmeal has been used as the main sources of protein in fish feeds [4, 5], however, the 

periodically occurring low availability, competition and continuously fluctuating price of fish meal and other animal 

protein sources are affecting aquaculture feed production [6, 7]. As a result, a lot of attention has been focused on 

feedstuffs alternative to fish both from animal and plant sources [5]. 

In Nigeria, most water bodies are flourished with large quantity of aquatic macrophytes as weed covering most 

part of water surface [8, 9]. Studies into the possibility of converting these macrophytes into economically useful 

materials will help a lot in curbing their menace [8, 10]. In aquaculture, the increasing cost, and scarcity of fishmeal 

plus other ingredients rich in protein of both plant and animal sources have resulted in fish nutritionist seeking 

alternative sources from non-conventional feed ingredients such as macrophytes. The potential of fresh water 

vascular plants as feedstuffs has been emphasized [11]. A few species appear to be suitable raw materials for leaf 

protein extraction, which can be used as human and non-ruminant animal feed in the tropics. 

The use of various ingredient of plant origin with nutritive value in order to reduce variable cost of production 

has been documented. These includes plantain peel [12], calabash seed [13-15], Moringa oleifera seed meal [16], 

calabash seed meal [17]. However, there is dearth of information on the nutritional values of these plants when 

subjected to various drying methods. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the potential of some aquatic 

macrophytes subjected to different drying methods as valuable ingredient in fish diets. 

 

2. Materials and Methods 
2.1. Study Area 

The study was carried – out at the Fish Hatchery and Agric Chemical Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, 

Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria. 

 

2.2. Samples Collection 

All samples of the study was collected from River Rima in Kwalkwalawa village, along Usmanu Danfodiyo 

University road (main campus) Sokoto. All the samples were collected and analyzed from October, 2012 to 

December, 2012. 

 

2.3. Processing of the Samples 
Weighed samples (600g) each of water hyacinth, water lily and water primrose were collected in triplicate and 

subjected to the different methods namely: air, sun and oven drying. 

 

2.4. Air Drying Samples 
Samples were spread under shade in the fish hatchery. Temperatures of the environment were recorded four 

times daily at 6.00am, 12.00pm, 4.00pm and 10.00pm respectively with mercury glass thermometer. 

 

2.5. Sun Drying of Samples 
Samples were dried under the sun on concrete floor guarded against high wind. Sun dried was carried out for 8 

hours daily during which ambient temperature was recorded at 10.00am, 12.00pm, 4.00pm and 6.00pm, using 

mercury glass thermometer. 

 

2.6. Oven Drying of Samples 
Samples were oven dried at the Agric Chemical Laboratory using UniscopeSM9053 Laboratory Oven at 65

0
 C 

for forty eight hours. 

 

2.7. Assays 
Moisture content was determined by drying in an oven 100-105

o
 C to constant weight [18]. The crude protein 

content was evaluated by digestion of the sample, nitrogen determination by a spectrophotometer method as 

described by Devani, et al. [19] and the crude protein was obtained by multiplying the quantity of nitrogen by the 

coefficient 6.25. Total lipids were determined by continuous extraction in a Sox let apparatus   for 8 hours using 

hexane as solvent. Ashing was carried out by incinerating in a furnace at 550
0 

C. Crude fiber was determined by 

sequential hot digestion of the defatted sample with dilute acid and alkaline. Total carbohydrate was determined by 

difference   (100- moisture, crude protein, ash, crude fiber and crude lipid) [18]. 

 

2.8. Statistical Analysis 
Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) 

and, treatment means were separated for significant differences using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test [20].  The 

analyses were carried out using the computer software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 9.0 for 

windows [21] 

 

3. Results 
The proximate composition of water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes), water lily (Nympae lotus) and water 

primrose (Ludwigia hyssopfiSlia) subjected to various drying methods (air dried, ovum dried and sun dried) are 

shown in table 1. There were no significant differences (P> 0.05) between the moisture content of the air dried 

samples between the treatments. However, other methods (ovum dried and sun dried) differ significantly (P< 0.05). 

Similarly, ash content follows the same trend, with higher values recorded in ovum dried method. The highest crude 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2014, 1(1): 11-14 

 

 

 

 

13 

 

protein was recorded in ovum dried method with no significant difference (P> 0.05) between the treatments; 

similarly the crude protein content of air dried did not differ significantly between water hyacinth and water lily but 

differ significantly (P< 0.05) with water primrose. Water hyacinth recorded highest value of fiber content (5.2±0.12) 

in ovum dried method with no significant difference between the treatments; however other methods exhibit a 

significant difference. The highest value of crude lipid (4.51 ± 0.01) was recorded in ovum dried method for water 

primrose, however the value did not differ significantly (P> 0.05) with those of water lily but other methods differ 

significantly between the treatments. Higher energy values were recorded in the air dried method for water primrose 

with no significant difference (P< 0.05) from sun dried method employed for water hyacinth and water lily 

respectively. Table 2 shows the percentage composition of the whole plants used for the analysis. 

 

4. Discussion 
The highest moisture content was recorded air dried samples in all the treatments. This observation was in line 

with Boyd [11]who reported that water hyacinth (Eichornia crassiopes) when dried contain as much as 7% moisture, 

the author further stated that the plant contain higher moisture and fiber content. The higher moisture contents in air 

dried samples in all treatments could have been attributed to the temperature and relative humidity of the air and the 

duration of the dying. The moisture content of water lily (Nymphae lotus) reported in the present study were similar 

to those of Cratera religiosa reported in Hassan, et al. [22]. Lowest moisture content was recorded water primrose 

(Ludwigia hyssopfiSlia) subjected to ovum drying method. Similarly, the ash content reported in the study of the 

aquatic macrophytes with response to the dying methods employed where in conformity with Boyd [11] and this 

therefore is indicating that the aquatic could beneficially serve as good sources of minerals for aquaculture. 

The crude protein contents reported in the present study for (Eichornia crassiopes) is higher in all the drying 

methods than those reported in Kusemiji and Akingboju [23], this could have been resulted to the soil fertility of 

habitat in which the plant grow. The crude protein content for Nympheae lotus in oven dried method was higher 

than the crude protein of the other drying methods, however the were higher than those reported in Anjana and Matai 

[24], lower than obtained in Mohammed, et al. [9]. The reason this variation could have been influenced by 

processing method and techniques employed in the processes. Oven dried method adopted for Ludwigia hyssopfiSlia 

recorded the highest crude protein which was significantly different from the other dried product, this could be 

attributed to the combination of moderate temperature and duration of drying. A moderate temperature over short 

period of time result in considerable retention of nutrient such as vitamins and certain minerals like calcium, iron and 

zinc. 

The fiber contents reported in the present study with all the aquatic plants subjected the various drying method 

were within the 5% base line fiber content for monogastic animals including fish [25]. However, the fiber content 

reported in the study with regard to Nympheae lotus was lower than reported in [9, 24]. Higher crude lipid were 

recorded in Ludwigia hyssopfiSlia exposed to various drying method, the values obtained than those reported in the 

leaves of  Eichornia crassiopes [26], also higher than those reported for the other plants in the present study. 

Carbohydrate levels reported in the present finding was relative higher in all the macrophytes subjected to various 

drying method, this is a clear trend that the plants could serve betterment as energy sources. 

 

5. Conclusion 
The finding of the is revealing that water hyacinth (Eichornia crassiopes), water lily (Nymphae lotus) and water 

primrose (Ludwigia hyssopfiSlia) could serve as good source of carbohydrate rather than protein, the processing 

methods were found to have effect on moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fiber, crude lipoid and carbohydrate in all 

the three macrophytes but protein retention was higher in oven dried samples. The study recommends oven dried 

methods in all the samples if it is economically justifiable, further studies should be carried to assess the potential of 

these macrophytes subjected to various drying method highlighted using cultured fish species. 

 
Table-1. Proximate composition of aquatic macrophytes on different drying methods (%) 

Samples Drying 

methods 

Moisture Ash Crude 

Protein 

Crude 

Fiber 

Crude 

Lipid 

NFE 

 

water hyacinth 

Eichornia 

crassiopes 

Air Dried 7.05±0.03
a 

14.33±0.17
b 

12.36±0.02
b 

4.50±0.29
b 

2.01±0.06
b 

60.06±0.01
b 

 Oven 

Dried 

6.91±0.01
b 

15.37±0.13
a 

12.52±0.02
a 

5.20±0.12
a 

2.50±0.03
b 

58.05±0.02
c 

 Sun Dried 6.60±0.06
c 

14.47±0.03
b 

11.08±0.01
c 

4.25±0.01
b 

2.52±0.02
a 

61.00±0.50
b 

Water lily 

Nymphae lotus 

Air Dried 6.32±0.06
a 

21.35±0.17
b 

8.55±0.25
b 

4.57±0.09
 

2.89±0.06
c 

55.46±0.14
c 

 Oven 

Dried 

6.25±0.03
b 

23.42±0.02
a 

11.76±0.02
c 

4.97±0.03 3.95±0.03
a 

50.03±0.48
c 

 Sun Dried 6.39±0.06
a 

19.90±0.10
c 

7.57±0.32
c 

4.99±0.07 3.56±0.32
b 

57.86±0.89
a 

Water primrose 

Ludwigia 

hyssopfiSlia 

Air Dried 6.20±0.03
a 

8.22±0.15
b 

4.84±0.60
c 

2.52±0.01 4.03±0.03
b 

74.02±0.11
a 

 Oven 

Dried 

5.96±0.02
b 

3.34±0.17
b 

15.13±0.01
a 

3.20±0.11
a 

4.51±0.01
a 

67.94±0.31
b 

 Sun Dried 6.12±0.06
a 

8.51±0.01
a 

11.64±0.01
b 

3.10±0.01
a 

4.49±0.01
b 

66.29±0.04
b 

        Means in rows with the same letters are not significantly different (P >0.05) 

 

 

 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2014, 1(1): 11-14 

 

 

 

 

14 

 

Table-2. Percentage composition of whole plants part 

Aquatic macrophytes Components Weight (g) Composition (%) 

Water hyacinth 

Eichornia crassiopes 

Leaves 600 16.01 

 Stem 3081.0 82.20 

 Root 67.03 1.79 

 Total 3748.03 100 

Water lily 

Nymphae lotus 

Leaves 600 55.95 

 Stem 290.886 27.12 

 Root 181.609 16.93 

 Total 1072.495 100 

Water primrose  

Ludwigia hyssopfiSlia 

Leaves 600 64.75 

 Stem 326.648 35.25 

 Root - - 

 Total 926.648 100 

 

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