Nigerian Journal of Fisheries Vol. 16, No. 1; 2019 ©Fisheries Society of Nigeria 1568 THE EFFECT OF WATER QUALITY AND NUTRIENT ACCUMULATION ON RICE GROWTH IN INTEGRATED AQUACULTURE-AGRICULTURE ABRAHAM, O. V. 1* , AKINWOLE, A. O. 2 , ADENIYI, A. O 2 , ABDULLAHI, U. U 3 and AKPOBOME, S. O. 4 1* Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nigeria Maritime University, Nigeria 2 Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria 3 Departmennt of Agricultural Technology, Niger State College of Agriculture, Nigeria 4 Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Corresponding Author:* Email: babyvichuks@gmail.com. +2348039114592 ABSTRACT: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Water Quality on rice growth performance in an integrated aquaculture-agriculture surrounded by a trench which serves as culture for fish. Oryza sativa (FARO 49) was planted in nursery bed and transplanting was done after 15 days at a spacing of 10cm by 10cm. Rice growths were accessed by measuring morphometric variables: plant height and leaves as well as reproductive stage: yield throughout productive period. Pond water quality and sediment nutrient accumulation were monitored. Rice plant height measured after sixteen weeks was 146.98±11.65cm and yield recorded was 2666.7kg/ha. Water quality parameters such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, NO3-N, NO2-N and NH3were within recommended range; showed a significant difference through improved physical-chemical parameters and revealed NO3-N, NO2-N and NH3 are strongly correlated positively and significant to rice growth. There was significant different (p> 0.05) during production between rice plant and nitrogen content present in soil. Sediment accumulated showed high nutrient received and manure with supplementary feed. The results showed that patterns of pond water and nutrient flows were strongly influenced by fish farming activities. Hence, integrating fish pond with crop has strengthened nutrient recycling which enhanced better farm outputs and safeguard the environment. Keywords: Productivity; Rice plant, Aquaculture; Agriculture INTRODUCTION Aquaculture continues to grow rapidly, and this influence the industry output yearly (FAO, 2012). It was described as a growth industry striving to satisfy a growing market and currently one of the fastest growing sectors of agriculture in Egypt (Nhan et al., 2007). Growing public demand for healthy, tasty and affordable food is stimulating the "boom" in this industry. Globally, aquaculture has become the fastest growing food production sector involving animal species. This tremendous growth has provided a number of opportunities for greater food security, improved livelihoods and reduced poverty (FAO, 2007). Integrated aquaculture strategies could be regarded as an option for efficient utilization of available resources, waste recycling, energy saving and maintaining ecological balance and circulation in aquaculture subsystem (Omitoyin, 2007). It has been known to advocated increase land use efficiency under increased population growth, environmental degradation, land and water scarcity (Barg et al., 2000). This system is a sustainable farming system known for diversification of agriculture towards nutrient linkages through interconnected flows of nutrients in aquaculture components while reducing environmental impacts (Prein, 2002). According to Edwards, (1998) the nutrient linkage makes use of off-farm bio-resources originating from another farm agro-industrial activities contributing to farming intensification, efficient use of natural resources, food security, income generation, environmental protection and sustainable agriculture (Devendra and Thomas, 2002).The integrated pond sub- system is made possible with existing farming activities to maximize production while minimizing nutrient discharges (Nhan et al., 2007). Potential benefits from integrating aquaculture in farming systems include: enhanced employment, income generation through additional or off-season production, food security, availability of high-value protein food, promoting organic farming through sustainable production and environmental protection. Sustainable aquaculture depends upon eco-friendly and economically and socially viable culture systems which offers tremendous potential for food security and poverty alleviation (Lemma et al., 2015). Integrated ponds are nutrient traps, as a high proportion of added nutrients accumulate in the sediments (Boyd and Gross, 2000) and this prevents from flowing into drainage waters (Olapade et al., 2015). These agricultural wastes; livestock manure, waste water can be used to fertilize vegetable crops and to restore soil fertility (Gabriel et al., 2007). The recycling of organic wastes for fish culture serves the dual purpose of cleaning the environment and fertilizers. Soil fertility improvement and control with less use of chemical Furthermore, the outputs of the pond optimization is multiple, including nutrient recycling and accumulation, nutrient and water use efficiency, and environmental sustainability rather than only aquatic production or pond profitability.