Aquatic plants for animal fodder

[Adjee]

Another experiment begins tomorrow when I collect two floating aquatic plants:

Azolla caroliniana - Carolina mosquito fern
Spirodela polyrhiza - Giant duckweed

The plants will be placed in large tubs where hopefully they will reproduce in sufficient quantities to supply fresh and dried fodder for our animals.

We will compare the growth and maintenance levels of both plants to see if it will be viable to grow them on a larger scale to help supplement the animals winter fodder intake.

If it works we will have another source of free feed that is high in protein and other minerals etc. the idea being to maximize the fast growth during spring/summer, dry the plants and use as winter feed.

But not all ideas work out the way you want, only time will tell with this one..........

This is the second of several projects we hope to complete this year, (the first being manure briquettes), all with the aim of giving us several layers/options to be more resilient for the times ahead.

[Arzosah]

Good luck with that! I've read a lot about duckweed being a sustainable food for animals, especially chickens, I hope the experiment is really successful for you.

[Mad Scientist]

Good going! Let us know how you get on!