Application of food waste based diets in polyculture of low trophic level fish: Effects on fish growth, water quality and plankton density

•Food waste was used for producing fish feed pellets for low trophic level fish.•Diet with 25% meat products and 28% cereals favoured growth of grass carp.•Inclusion of more cereals resulted in higher plankton density in fish pond.•Least amount of planktons found in pond fed with 25% meat products and 28% cereals. Food waste was collected from local hotels and fish feed pellets were produced for a 6months long field feeding trial. Three types of fish feed pellets (control diet: Jinfeng® 613 formulated feed, contains mainly fish meal, plant product and fish oil; Diet A: food waste based diet without meat and 53% cereal; Diet B: food waste based diet with 25% meat and 28% cereal) were used in polyculture fish ponds to investigate the growth of fish (grass carp, bighead and mud carp), changes in water quality and plankton density. No significant differences in the levels of nitrogen and phosphorous compounds of water body were observed between 3 fish ponds after the half-year feeding trial, while pond receiving Diet A had the highest density of plankton. The food waste combination of Diet B seems to be a better formulation in terms of the overall performance on fish growth.