MAKERERE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES SCHOOL OF BIOSCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCES, MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF RATTUS NORVEGICUS FED ON VARYING CONCENTRATIONS OF AZOLLA MEAL BY OKELLO ISAAC OPIO BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 16/U/1021 A RESEARCH REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCES, MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY IN PARTIAL FULFIILMENT OF THE REQUIREMNETS FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY AUGUST, 2019 Page | i DEDICATION This report is dedicated to my beloved parents, Mr. James Opio and Mrs. Jasinta Opio for their moral care, financial supports, and encouragement during the process of developing and conduction of this research work. And to my siblings; Scovia, Anyes, Dorine, Jacob, David and Aron for their trusts and believe in my abilities. I also dedicate to my friends beloved friends; Mary, Sandra, Godfrey, Isaac, Paul, Justin, Tonny, Alex, and Daniel. Page | iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I thank the God Almighty father for His abundant grace, knowledge, wisdom, protection, and strengths that He granted me to start this piece of work. I am also grateful to all the staffs of the department for their guidance, knowledge, time, and tireless assistance that resulted to a successful finish of this proposal. Appreciations also go to my fellow students whom I study with for their discussions and technical assistance towards writing this report. Special thanks also go to my University supervisors; Dr. Ssenku E. Jamilu for dedicating his times to guide me and give me all kinds of academic advice. Page | iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................................... i APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................................. ii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF ACRONYMNS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................ viii CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background of the study ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem statement ............................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.1 General objectives ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.3.2 Specific objectives ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Justification ......................................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Significance of the study ..................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 Hypotheses .......................................................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................................... 4 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Fodder production ............................................................................................................................... 4 2.3 Taxonomy of Azolla ............................................................................................................................ 4 2.4 Distribution of Azolla .......................................................................................................................... 5 2.5 Morphology of Azolla ......................................................................................................................... 5 2.6 Reproduction in Azolla ....................................................................................................................... 5 2.7 Growth of Azolla ................................................................................................................................. 6 2.8 Nutrient composition of Azolla ........................................................................................................... 6 2.9 Utilization of Azolla ............................................................................................................................ 7 CHAPETR THREE ...................................................................................................................................... 8 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ............................................................................................................ 8 3.1 Nature of study design ........................................................................................................................ 8 3.2 Study area............................................................................................................................................ 8 Page | v 3.3 Sample Collection and Survey ............................................................................................................ 8 3.4 Study materials .................................................................................................................................... 9 3.5 Sampling strategy ................................................................................................................................ 9 3.6 Preparation of Azolla meal .................................................................................................................. 9 3.7 Treatments......................................................................................................................................... 10 3.8 Data collection .................................................................................................................................. 11 3.9 Statistical analysis ............................................................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................................... 13 4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ....................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................................ 15 5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION .................................................................................... 15 5.1 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 15 5.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................. 15 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 16 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................ 21 Appendix 1: Raw data of the life weights of Rattus norvegicus taken during the feeding experiment .. 21 Page | vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Marking of the animals.................................................................................................... 9 Figure 2: Rattus norvegicus in one of the cages ............................................................................. 9 Figure 3: Azolla cake on the paper bag ......................................................................................... 10 Figure 4: Weighing of Azolla cake ............................................................................................... 10 Figure 5: Changing of beddings .................................................................................................... 11 Figure 6: Weighing of experimental animal ................................................................................. 11 Figure 7: Changes in the body weight of the control and treatment groups during the feeding trial. ..............................................................................................................................................