The high cost of commercial feeds, around 60% on production cost of tilapia in Region 02, has prompted the bureau to undertake research study on duckweeds as alternative fish feed.
Duckweeds (Lemna spp.) are small free floating plants with reported 18-42% crude protein (CP) content depending on the nutrient added on the culture media. Fertilization is necessary in order to ensure high CP content. The plant is very easy to grow and can in fact thrive on waste water. Other positive attributes are:
- Inexpensive to produce, can be produced with almost no cost at all
- Fish produced is palatable, safe and nutritious for human consumption
- It is used / digested very efficiently by tilapia and carp, it can be fed to poultry
- Easily reproduces and can easily double its weight within 16 hours to 2 days thereby volume production from minimal area is possible
- It has balanced essential amino acids and has a highly digestible dry matter which results to minimal waste from the fish, optimum metabolism on the use of nutrients and better feed conversion ratio
- Has carotene and xantophyll
Site Selection
Duckweeds thrive on stow moving or still bodies of water, it can be grown in tanks, ponds or any other area provided the site is protected torn strong winds and intense sunlight.
Planting Method
Planting simply entails transferring seed plants into the planting area. Seed plants can be acquired at BFAR Agricultural Pilot Center Fish farm at Iguig, Cagayan for free. Two (2) kilos planting material is enough for 100 square meters.
Production area must be fertilized at rate of 100 to 200 kg 16-20-0 per hectare or 1,000 – 2,000 kg chicken manure per hectare for favorable result. If you intend to produce duckweeds at same area with fish, the pond must be apportioned appropriately. Install net as division and protection of the plant from the fish.
Harvesting
When the seed plants have sufficiently multiplied, harvest plants every two days to prevent overcrowding. Feed the plants directly to the fish at designated feeding schedule and at appropriate ratio.
The research conducted at APCFF has determined that a feed combination consisting 50% fresh duckweeds and 50% commercial feed as the optimum mixture. The stocks fed with the combination even attained higher growth rate / weight gain than stocks fed with pure commercial feeds.
Using Duckweeds as Alternative Fish Feed
Proper site selection and pond preparation must be followed, likewise proper pond care and maintenance must be observed in any fishpond venture (for detailed information, read Tilapia Growout in Ponds).
When using duckweeds as alternative diet, simply divide the Daily Feed
Ration (DFR) by 2, such that feed composition will be 50% commercial feeds and 50% fresh duckweeds.
Feeding Rate and Schedule (semi-intensive culture system)
BW – Body Weight
Simple Cost Analysis
a) Duckweeds production In 1,000 sq. m. pond (1 – year production cycle)
(this is just an example, scale duckweed production according to your actual requirement)
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2010 · All Rights Reversed ·
[...] As far as feed goes it all depends on the fish you are using. I have tilapia in my system. Tilapia are a wonderful choice in tropical climates as they are extremely forgiving as far as water quality is concerned and they are not picky eaters. They are vegetarians and will consume leafy scraps from the garden as well as water hyacinth, water lettuce and duckweed. [...]
I’m so glad you’re making this information available. To the best of my knowledge, duckweed is mostly considered a nuisance here in the United States. Its value has not been fully explored. There are those who do appreciate it though. Here is a link to an article demonstrating that duckweed is appreciated by some people who raise koi for fun.
http://www.destinysurvival.com/2009/10/30/survival-connections-duckweed-the-space-beagle-and-quilts/
Here in mindanao where banana plantations are huge duckweeds are pest here they produce tons of it but they cannot solve they problem because it causes depletion of oxygen to there waste water ponds and thus make bio-oxygen demand (bod) unpassable to denr laws on clean water act.
“Ton’s of duckweeds are for free here in Mindanao”
[...] includes 45-days delayed feeding technology, use of duckweeds as feeds and polyculture (2 [...]
yup its a book, pls where i buy it?thanks,how much
@jm, email at earthkeepers_garden@yahoo.com.ph.
LIKASAKA is a book, right?
does anyone knows about,LIKASAKA?,, or organic aquafeeds? thanks enmail me info,,thanks
where should i buy this duckweeds,,help please,,thanks
hi,its great, by d way i want to ask po all about salted egg production,,,please, i need it po in m feasibility study
@czarina, salted egg production here:
http://www.mixph.com/2008/09/how-to-make-salted-eggs-itlog-na-maalat-in-heater-clay-method.html
May ron na ba duckweeds dito sa caraga region? saan ako pwd manghingi nag planting materials sa BFAR Caraga Region ba?
sirs, saan po kaya pwede makakuha or makabili ng binhing duckweeds, d2 po ako sa bulacan. Kindly email to erik_0930@yahoo.com
@erik, inquire ka directly sa BFAR (02) 926-8714, baka meron silang listahan ng mga suppliers/growers.