Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
as experimenting with a variety of methods for sustaining our duckweed crops, and we
don't know the 'magic formula' for success.
However, our latest inquiries into growing duckweed suggests putting PVC in the
tanks for the duckweed to grow around it (which makes sense) so we're going to try
that and we'll keep you posted. (We never give up.)
Thereisavastamountofscientific researchandavailable informationontheInternetabout
duckweed.
Duckweed seems to
overgrow
in places that people do not want it like ponds, rivers and
lakes but it's been difficult for us to domesticate and raise it in tubs for more than a few
weeks before it dies. If duckweed covers the surface of a body of water, there is an oxygen
depletion which kills fish in the ponds, rivers or lakes. (We feed our tilapia only enough for
them to eat which accounts for about 20% of their feed. The remnants are picked off over
time.)
Photo 8: Duckweed close-up
Fun fact: People asked us for a long time what duckweed tasted like. One day our con-
struction engineer said, “Well, I guess
you
ought to taste it so you can tell them.” So I did.
It tastes like watercress. Tangy, peppery and very clean tasting.” We thought you'd like to
know. - Colle
Also, starch that comes from duckweed can quickly be changed into ethanol, which it can
be used instead of corn for ethanol. Farmers from large-scale hog farms, rid their waste
through large duckweed “lagoons." It helps manage their animal wastes through biological
treatment and can even 'clean' hog-waste water and makes the water potable by running
the water through enough duckweed. Interesting, eh?
Here are a few links for you to study duckweed and its benefits and complexities:
