Soils --> water
In this part of the blog, I will not talk about the soil in
the Netherlands since my crop only needs water as a medium. It grows in ponds,
marshes or lakes.
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| Picture 1: Self-taken picture |
Duckweed lives in nutrient-rich fresh or brackish water. (Centre for Duckweed Research & Development University of New England
Armidale, 1995)
When temperatures decrease duckweeds form a turion and sink
to the bottom of the lagoon, they remain dormant during cold weather and
reemerge when warmer temperatures increase the water temperature.
The water in which duckweeds grow need to be sheltered from the wind
and have no wave movement, moving water will inhibit plant growth.
For optimal growth, the pH of the water ranges from 5 to 9. (Centre for Duckweed Research & Development University of New England
Armidale, 1995)
When the water is rich in nutrients the growth of duckweed
increases. The main nutrients in the water are nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium,
sodium, potassium, magnesium, carbon, and chloride. Pigments are also very
important for the plant such as carotene and xanthophyll.
Ammonium
should be added to the water for the plant to have nitrogen. The ammonium helps
the plant assimilate nitrate. Urea can be a way to add the nitrogen in a
hydroponic system.(Centre for Duckweed Research & Development University of New England
Armidale, 1995) Phosphorus is another important element since it improves the growth of duckweed.
References:
Alterra,
W. (2004). Quick Scan Soils in The Netherlands. Retrieved from
http://webdocs.alterra.wur.nl/pdffiles/alterraRapporten/rapport 948.pdf
Centre
for Duckweed Research & Development University of New England Armidale.
(1995). DUCKWEED - A POTENTIAL HIGH-PROTEIN FEED RESOURCE FOR. Retrieved
October 10, 2019, from http://www.fao.org/ag/aga/agap/frg/lrrd/lrrd7/1/3.htm
Skillicorn,
P., Spira, W., Journey, W., & World Bank. (1993). Duckweed aquaculture :
a new aquatic farming system for developing countries. World Bank.
Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242631709_Duckweed_Aquaculture_A_New_Aquatic_Farming_System_for_Developing_Countries
Armidale, 1995) Phosphorus is another
important element, since it improves the growth of duckweed.(Skillicorn, Spira, Journey, & World Bank., 1993)
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