Duckweed versus Water Hyacinth, Which is Right for Your Homestead?

Duckweed and water hyacinth are two aquatic plants that are increasingly being considered as potential sources of livestock fodder. Both of these plants are able to grow rapidly and prolifically in water bodies, making them attractive options for farmers and ranchers looking for cost-effective, sustainable feed sources.

In this blog post, we will compare and contrast duckweed and water hyacinth as potential fodder sources, looking at their nutritional value, ease of cultivation, and other important factors.

Nutritional Value

One of the most important factors when considering any feed source is its nutritional value. In this regard, both duckweed and water hyacinth have a lot to offer. Duckweed is rich in protein, with some species containing as much as 45% protein by dry weight. It is also a good source of essential amino acids, as well as vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin B12, iron, and calcium.

Water hyacinth, on the other hand, is high in fiber and also contains significant amounts of protein (up to 15% by dry weight). It is also a good source of minerals such as potassium and phosphorus. However, it is important to note that water hyacinth can accumulate toxic compounds such as heavy metals, which can make it unsuitable for consumption in certain areas. (They both bioaccumulate, though less research has been performed on duckweed and azolla for that purpose. It would be wise not to consume or allow animals to consume any plants that may be contaminated with large amounts of heavy metals.)

Ease of Cultivation

Another important factor to consider when comparing duckweed and water hyacinth as fodder sources is their ease of cultivation. Duckweed can be grown in a variety of water bodies, from small ponds to large-scale wastewater treatment systems. It requires relatively little maintenance, and can be harvested multiple times per year. However, it is important to note that some species of duckweed can be invasive and may require careful management to prevent them from spreading to other water bodies.

Water hyacinth, on the other hand, can also be grown in a variety of water bodies, but requires more maintenance than duckweed. It grows best in warm, tropical climates and can be sensitive to changes in temperature and water quality. Additionally, because of its potential to become invasive, water hyacinth may require more careful management than duckweed.

Environmental Impact

Both duckweed and water hyacinth have the potential to provide a number of environmental benefits in addition to their use as livestock feed. Duckweed, for example, has been shown to be effective at removing excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, reducing the risk of algal blooms and other water quality issues. It can also provide habitat for a variety of aquatic species.

Water hyacinth, on the other hand, can help to prevent soil erosion and reduce water evaporation in areas with high temperatures and low rainfall. It can also provide habitat for a variety of aquatic species, including fish, turtles, and birds. However, as mentioned earlier, water hyacinth can also become invasive and may require careful management to prevent it from spreading to other water bodies.

Cost and Availability

Finally, when considering duckweed and water hyacinth as fodder sources, it is important to consider their cost and availability. Duckweed is relatively easy and inexpensive to cultivate, and can be harvested multiple times per year. It is also available in a variety of forms, from fresh to dried, and can be fed to livestock as a supplement or as a complete replacement for other feed sources.

Looking to buy some live duckweed to try out at your homestead? Look no further than this excellent Etsy store, run by Knotty Pots.

Water hyacinth, on the other hand, may be more difficult and expensive to cultivate, depending on the location and water quality. It is also less widely available than duckweed, likely because it is illegal to buy/transport in some areas, including Florida. Water hyacinth may require more effort to harvest and process for use as livestock feed, as it is larger and heavier.

In conclusion, both duckweed and water hyacinth have the potential to be valuable sources of livestock feed, depending on a variety of factors such as their nutritional value, ease of cultivation, and local and regional laws.

Duckweed: The Versatile Homesteading Crop with Multiple Benefits

Homesteading, or the practice of living self-sufficiently off the land, has seen a resurgence in recent years as people seek to reduce their reliance on commercial food systems and live more sustainably. One plant that has the potential to be a valuable addition to any homestead is duckweed. This tiny aquatic plant has a range of benefits that make it an ideal addition to any homesteading operation.

One of the main benefits of duckweed for homesteaders is its ability to be grown as a high-protein feed source for livestock. Ducks, chickens, and other poultry will happily eat duckweed, which is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. In fact, some homesteaders have reported that their ducks and chickens will actively seek out duckweed when given the opportunity. This makes it an ideal food source for homesteaders who are looking to raise their own livestock and reduce their reliance on commercial feed.

In addition to being a valuable food source for livestock, duckweed can also be used as a natural fertilizer for crops. Duckweed is able to absorb nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the water, which can then be used to fertilize plants. This makes it an ideal addition to any homestead garden, as it can help to increase soil fertility and improve crop yields.

Another benefit of duckweed for homesteaders is its potential as a source of biofuel. Duckweed is rich in oils, which can be extracted and converted into biodiesel. This makes it an ideal crop for homesteaders who are looking to produce their own fuel and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Duckweed is also an excellent source of compost. Because it is rich in nutrients and breaks down quickly, it can be added directly to compost piles to help speed up the composting process and create a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Another way that duckweed can be used on the homestead is as a natural insect repellent. Studies have shown that duckweed contains compounds that repel insects such as mosquitoes and flies. This makes it an ideal addition to any homestead pond or water feature, as it can help to reduce the number of insects in the surrounding area.

Despite its many benefits, duckweed can be challenging to grow, particularly in colder climates. Duckweed requires warm water temperatures and plenty of sunlight in order to grow and thrive. This is why it is a superior option for Florida. However, with the right conditions, it can be a valuable addition to any homestead operation.

One approach to growing duckweed on the homestead is to create a small pond or water feature specifically for growing duckweed. This can be as simple as a plastic container filled with water and placed in a sunny location. Duckweed can be added to the container and allowed to grow and multiply, providing a valuable source of food for livestock and a natural fertilizer for crops.

Another approach to growing duckweed is to use an aquaponics system. Aquaponics is a system of agriculture that combines hydroponics (growing plants in water) with aquaculture (raising fish). In an aquaponics system, fish are raised in a tank and their waste is used to fertilize plants that are grown in water. Duckweed can be added to the aquaponics system as a natural filter, helping to remove excess nutrients from the water and improve the overall health of the system.

In conclusion, duckweed is a valuable plant that has a range of benefits for homesteaders. From its ability to provide a high-protein food source for livestock to its potential as a natural fertilizer and source of biofuel, duckweed is a versatile crop that can help homesteaders become more self-sufficient and sustainable. While it can be challenging to grow in colder climates, with the right conditions, duckweed can be a valuable addition to any homestead operation.

Want to try out duckweed at your place? You can pick up some from me from my Etsy store here

Duckweed: The Tiny Plant with Big Benefits for the Environment and Beyond

Duckweed, also known as Lemnoideae, is a type of aquatic plant that is found in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. It is a tiny floating plant that can grow to be just a few millimeters in size. Despite its small size, duckweed has a range of benefits, making it an important part of many ecosystems.

One of the most significant benefits of duckweed is its ability to remove excess nutrients from the water. As a floating plant, duckweed is able to absorb nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the water, which can help to reduce the levels of these nutrients in the surrounding environment. This is particularly important in areas where there is excess nutrient runoff from agriculture or other human activities, as this can lead to harmful algal blooms and other negative environmental impacts.

Duckweed is also an excellent source of food for a variety of animals, including fish, turtles, and waterfowl. The high protein content of duckweed makes it a nutritious food source, and it is often used as a supplemental food for livestock and poultry. Think of skimming some off the top of a wastewater pond and feeding it to your chickens, rabbits, and ducks, as I do. They love the taste, and I love the extremely low cost of this nutrition source.

In addition to being a valuable food source for animals, duckweed can also be used as a source of biofuel. Researchers have found that duckweed is a promising source of renewable energy, as it can be converted into bioethanol and other fuels.

In addition to its environmental and economic benefits, duckweed has also been found to have a range of medicinal properties. Studies have shown that duckweed contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, making it a potential treatment for a range of health conditions. For example, duckweed has been found to be effective in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, which are linked to a range of chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Due to duckweed being grown in freshwater, it should be cooked to reduce the possibility of contamination from harmful pathogens that are endemic to our environment, such as E. coli.

One of the most exciting potential uses of duckweed is in wastewater treatment. Because duckweed is able to absorb nutrients from the water, it has the potential to be used in wastewater treatment systems to remove excess nutrients and pollutants from the water. In addition, because duckweed is able to grow rapidly and reproduce quickly, it can be used to treat large volumes of wastewater in a relatively short amount of time. This could be particularly beneficial in developing countries, where access to clean water is a major challenge. Here in Florida, I have found it extremely helpful in managing the duck slough, as it sucks up the manure and clears the water for other garden uses.

Despite its many benefits, duckweed is often considered a nuisance by pond owners and other water users. This is because duckweed can grow quickly and form dense mats on the surface of the water, which can limit the amount of light and oxygen that reaches the aquatic ecosystem below. In addition, dense duckweed mats can interfere with recreational activities such as fishing and boating.

However, there are a number of strategies that can be used to control the growth of duckweed and minimize its impact on the surrounding ecosystem. One approach is to use mechanical methods, such as raking or skimming, to remove excess duckweed from the water. Another approach is to introduce natural predators, such as ducks or fish, that will feed on the duckweed and help to keep its growth under control.

In conclusion, duckweed is a tiny plant with a range of benefits, from its ability to absorb excess nutrients from the water to its potential as a source of food, fuel, and medicine. While it can sometimes be considered a nuisance by water users, there are a number of strategies that can be used to control its growth and minimize its impact on the surrounding ecosystem. With its many potential uses and benefits, duckweed is a plant that deserves further study and exploration. With its low initial coat (buy some from me at my Etsy store) and ease of maintenance, it is a perennial that should be evaluated by any permaculturist or homesteader.

Duck Potato, Sagittaria platyphylla, Delta Arrowhead

     I once stole this plant from a ditch at the community College. No really,  I really did do that. I wasn't arrested either. It almost tops the time I took cattail from the ditch at the hospital. I wasn't arrested then either. 

     Actually I didn't know what this was until it made a pretty white flower, and now I love it. I had wanted to buy duck potato because I had read that it's edible to, well, ducks. Possibly rabbits? Not sure. But now that I have this plant, all I have to do is propagate it, and I will have unlimited duck food! Mwa haha.

     Supposedly the underground tubers are eaten by ducks and snapping turtles. It sounds like a great plant to grow. Supposedly it can be propagated by transplanting the tubers. Also supposedly, it was a major food source for the Native Americans that lived in the Okeechobee area. 

Do Ducks Eat Tradescantia Purple Heart?

 

    Things are so expensive. A bag of plain chicken food without the additives to promote egg laying is about $20. When you factor in the cost of the baby duck food I have already given them, at this time I have spent about $40 in nothing but feed for these ducks. That makes them kinda expensive if I was owning them for meat. So any supplementation that I can give them from my plants would be a good thing.

     Between the corn sprouts and the water hyacinth, I have learned that they will eat Spanish Needle, but they won't eat Papyrus. And today I covered their splash ponds in Tradescantia Purple Heart, also called Moses in a Boat. It's a lovely succulent that grows in deep shade and is used often around here as a groundcover. Previously I had determined that the rabbits do indeed like it.

     Covered the splash ponds in Purple Heart, and then went on to do the next chore. By the time I turned around they were eating everything in sight, including the Purple Heart.

     That day they didn't finish their chicken crumble food or the corn sprouts because they filled up on healthy plants.

     Ducks love water hyacinth.

Buy this plant from me?

     This morning I snapped a quick picture of this dwarf pink canna. This is its first bloom of the season.
     As you may know, cannas love full sun and plenty of water. Its hard to overwater them! They can be placed in a pot into an existing or new pond. I was thinking $5 or plant trade would be a good price, as this is a 100% organic offering of an edible suitable for the front yard.
     Check out the Craigslist Posting for this plant.

Buy this plant from me - Dwarf Red Canna

This morning I snapped a quick picture of this dwarf, red Canna. This is its first bloom of the season.
As you may know, Cannas love full sun and plenty of water. It's difficult to overwater them! Cannas can be placed into a pot in a new or existing pond, or planted out in the ditch that might exist in your yard.
I was thinking $5 or a trade/barter would be a good price, as this is a 100% organic offering of an edible plant beautiful enough for the front yard.
Thank you for checking out my plants. More offerings to come in the future. Ok to ask questions, even dumb ones.
-Knotty Pots
Chrissy

What is hydrated lime, really?

     Hydrated lime is a builder's concrete additive and a soil amendment. The high calcium, low magnesium (non-dolomitic) type can also be used for making a home-made version of sodium hydroxide by following the methods outlined here.
     The pure form of the chemical is known as calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) or slaked lime. It's pH is a high 12.4. Aglime and hydrated lime are frequently confused, but are chemically completely different. Aglime is crushed limestone (calcium carbonate).

     As a soil amendment, it is a cheap way to raise the pH of large amounts of overly acidic soil. In aquaponics and hydroponics, it can be used to safely raise adjust pH and add calcium to the closed systems, though some people would just add seashells to their system. There are several grades of hydrated lime for the garden, a high calcium grade, a medium calcium grade, and a dolomitic grade. These three are all varying degrees of magnesium added, with the high calcium having the least, and the dolomitic having the most.

    For the soap lye synthesis plan, I have found the highest calcium grade hydrated lime for the best price at the Sears website, of all places. Five pounds of 95% calcium for $13.63, free shipping. That's even cheaper than Amazon!