Comprehensive Utilization of Land Resources for Photovoltaic Power Generation to Culture Chinese Mitten Crab (<i>Eriocheir sinensis</i>): Growth Performance, Nutritional Composition and Tissue Color

Abstract

The assertive growth of photovoltaics (PV) will occupy a lot of land resources. There is also a needed land resource to expand the culturing area of Eriocheir sinensis. The aquavoltaic systems offer a potential solution to integrate PV power and E. sinensis culturing. In this study, we cultured E. sinensis in an area of PV panels (PV group) and an area with no PV panels (control group), respectively. The results showed that the weight gain rate, body length, body width, and meat yield of male crabs in the PV group significantly increases. In addition, the moisture of muscles, hepatopancreas, and testes in the PV group has significantly increased, and the total lipids of the hepatopancreas and muscles in the PV group were significantly decreased. Moreover, the PV panels affected the content of eight amino acids in different tissues, including Met, Arg, Cys, Pro, Gly, Leu, Tyr, and His. In addition, several saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) had been significantly influenced by the PV panels. ∑MUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), ∑n-3 PUFA, ∑n-6 PUFA, and n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio (p < 0.05) in the PV group had significantly decreased. The results of tissue color showed that the L* value of ovaries was significantly higher than in the control group, and a* and b* values of hepatopancreas were significantly lower. In conclusion, PV panels could promote growth performance and amino acid nutrition of crabs. However, the PV panels had a few negative influences on the fatty acid composition and tissue color.

Keywords

• aquavoltaic system
• <i>Eriocheir sinensis</i>
• growth performance
• nutritional composition
• tissue color