Objective. To evaluate the nutritional composition of duckweed (DW) (Lemna minor) and water hyacinth (WH) (Eichhornia crassipes) and its effect on the apparent digestibility of dry matter (%, ADDM), apparent digestibility of crude protein (%, ADCP) and the apparent digestibility of the crude lipid (%, ADCL) in the nutrition of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Material and methods. The DW and WH were used to formulate nine isoproteic (32.47%), isolipidic (5.46%) and isoenergetic (16.45 MJ kg-1) diets, with three replicates and 15 male tilapia (36.36± 1.16 g) per repetition: 0% (T0); 10% (T10); 15% (T15); 20% (T20) and 25% (T25), respectively random. A principal component analysis (PCA) was applied. Results. The crude protein (%) of the WH and the DW, were 21.72% and 27.37% (p˂0.05), respectively. Fish fed with WH and DW, up to 10 and 15% inclusion in the diet, respectively, did not show significant differences (p>0.05) for ADDM. However, for ADCP and ADCL, up to 15 and 20%, respectively, significant differences (p>0.05) were not observed. Conclusions. Water hyacinth and duckweed meals were an alternative vegetable protein source, which can partially replace soybean meal and cornmeal in tilapia diets. The PCA suggests that the control diet, 10% WH, 10-15% DW, showed the best results in terms of the apparent digestibility of the nutrients. | Objetivo. Evaluar la composición nutritiva de la lenteja de agua (LA) (Lemna minor) y jacinto de agua (JA) (Eichhornia crassipes) y su efecto en la digestibilidad aparente de la materia seca (%, DAMS), digestibilidad aparente de la proteína cruda (%, DAPC) y la digestibilidad aparente de la grasa cruda (%, DAGC) en la nutrición de la tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Materiales y métodos. La LA y el JA se utilizaron para formular nueve dietas isoproteicas (32.47%), isolipídicas (5.46%) e isoenergéticas (16.45 MJ kg-1), con tres repeticiones y 15 tilapias machos (36.36±1.16 g) por repetición: 0% (T0); 10% (T10); 15% (T15); 20% (T20) y 25% (T25), respectivamente al azar. Se aplicó un análisis de componentes principales (PCA). Resultados. La PC del JA y la LA, fue 21.72% y 27.37% (p˂0.05), respectivamente. Los peces alimentados con JA y LA, hasta 10 y 15% de inclusión en la dieta respectivamente, no mostraron diferencias significativas (p>0.05) para la DAMS, aunque para la DAPC y DAGC, hasta 15 y 20%, respectivamente, no se observó diferencias significativas (p>0.05). Conclusiones. Las harinas de jacinto de agua y lenteja de agua, son fuente de proteína vegetal alternativa, que pueden sustituir parcialmente la soya y maíz en dietas para la tilapia (O. niloticus). El PCA sugiere que la dieta de control, 10% JA, 10-15% LA, mostraron los mejores resultados en términos de digestibilidad aparente de los nutrientes.

Objective. To evaluate the nutritional composition of duckweed (DW) (Lemna minor) and water hyacinth (WH) (Eichhornia crassipes) and its effect on the apparent digestibility of dry matter (%, ADDM), apparent digestibility of crude protein (%, ADCP) and the apparent digestibility of the crude lipid (%, ADCL) in the nutrition of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Material and methods. The DW and WH were used to formulate nine isoproteic (32.47%), isolipidic (5.46%) and isoenergetic (16.45 MJ kg-1) diets, with three replicates and 15 male tilapia (36.36± 1.16 g) per repetition: 0% (T0); 10% (T10); 15% (T15); 20% (T20) and 25% (T25), respectively random. A principal component analysis (PCA) was applied. Results. The crude protein (%) of the WH and the DW, were 21.72% and 27.37% (p˂0.05), respectively. Fish fed with WH and DW, up to 10 and 15% inclusion in the diet, respectively, did not show significant differences (p>0.05) for ADDM. However, for ADCP and ADCL, up to 15 and 20%, respectively, significant differences (p>0.05) were not observed. Conclusions. Water hyacinth and duckweed meals were an alternative vegetable protein source, which can partially replace soybean meal and cornmeal in tilapia diets. The PCA suggests that the control diet, 10% WH, 10-15% DW, showed the best results in terms of the apparent digestibility of the nutrients.