The efficacy of the silo and broadcast methods of applying organic fertilizers in ponds for the production of pond-floor, microbenthic biological complex, a natural food source known as lablab, was tested in 1-ha ponds, replicated thrice in time. Although there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in milkfish growth, survival and production between the two treatments tested, after 90 days production tended to be higher in ponds prepared with the silo method. Advantages of the silo method are that it is less laborious, cheaper, and less time consuming than the broadcast method and results in consistent lablab growth until the end of the culture period.

The manual is intended as a guide for operation in milkfish farming. It is presented under the following major sections: 1) Handling of fry - counting, storage and transport; 2) Pond layout and construction - selection of farm site, layout, construction, plan and specification; 3) Pond operation, culture and management - nursery pond management and rearing pond operation; 4) Harvest and post-harvest - harvest, post harvest, and processing; and 5) Economics and costing - cost of construction, cost of operation, and production/yield.