Valorization of weed Portulaca oleracea L. as an alternative to fish feed ingredient

Feed ingredients such as fishmeal and soybean meal are common used in the aquaculture industry. However, they have drawbacks both environmentally and economically and should switch over to more sustainable materials. Using a weed in fish feed opens up potential and environmentally conscious possibilities. The objective of this study is to explore the potential valorization of a common weed plant called Portulaca oleracea L., using enzymatic hydrolysis for incorporation into fish feeds. This common weed can thrive by itself without human intervention. The nutrient content of P. oleracea L. was 16.33% protein, 0.88% lipid, 10.19 % ash, 26.20% crude fiber, and 46.40% carbohydrates (by differences) (% dry weight). However, the high crude fiber restricts its utilization in feed formulation. Hydrolysis has been employed to reduce crude fiber and enhance its quality. The treatments in doses are as follows: 10%, 20%, 30%. and 40% (v/w). Each treatment was conducted in three triplicates for 60 hours, 55oC, and pH 5.0. The result revealed that the nutrient quality of P. oleracea L. was improved. In conclusion, the valorized P. oleracea L. is feasible to be an ingredient in fish feed.