Aquaponics Digest - Fri 05/07/99
Message 1: Reorganic standards
from "vpage"
Message 2: Re: strep
from "vpage"
Message 3: Lettuce mix
from Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta
Message 4: duckweed
from Jose Pelleya
Message 5: Help with Costa Rica property
from Jose Pelleya
Message 6: Re: Help with Costa Rica property
from Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta
Message 7: RE: duckweed
from "Alejandro Gallardo"
Message 8: Re: drippers
from "Harley Smith"
Message 9: Re: duckweed
from "vpage"
Message 10: Re: Help with Costa Rica property
from "vpage"
Message 11: Fw: Delivery failure (aquaponics@townsquare.com)
from "vpage"
Message 12: RE: Propagation of cuttings
from james.rakocy@uvi.edu (James Rakocy, Ph.D.)
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| Message 1 |
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Subject: Reorganic standards
From: "vpage"
Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 23:01:05 -0600
>An acquaintance form the Alberta Govt. has asked what States have
established organic guidelines for Aquaculture and Aquaponics. Can he
acquire these guidelines as Alberta is looking into it?
If this has been addressed before-my apologies.
VPage
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| Message 2 |
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Subject: Re: strep
From: "vpage"
Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 23:12:16 -0600
Have finally got some control. I used potassium permanganate to attack the
organics in take water,cleaned that up with hydrogen peroxide the next day
and then added salt. Water quality is superb and I am back to light feeding.
So far so good---like the guy jumping out of the window!! I have several
thousands of pounds so hand washing was out of the queston:}
Thanks all for your responses
VPage
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| Message 3 |
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Subject: Lettuce mix
From: Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 03:06:39 -0400
I'm heading in your direction with my salad mix, planning to eliminate
the green lettuces when I reseed those beds. I assume you're growing
Giant Red Mustard and Red Russian Kale? These grew better for me in the
fall than they are now. The kale was almost blue/green with red stems,
the mustard dark green with red veins. Now they're both much lighter in
color. These two varieties, especially the kale seem to be good
"canaries" indicating nutrient problems before other plants show
deficiency symptoms. What other varieties do you like in the kales and
mustards?
> We sell our salad mix with no green lettuce in it. People usually buy a
> lettuce to go with it. We add red mustards and kales for texture and color
> with those other ingredients.
Adriana
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| Message 4 |
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Subject: duckweed
From: Jose Pelleya
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 07:36:00 -060
Alejandro:
Here's an article on ducks and duckweed you might enjoy, although it
doesn't directly address your question.
Jose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second FAO Electronic Conference on Tropical Feeds
Livestock Feed Resources within Integrated Farming Systems
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twenty seventh paper from B.X. Men.
Questions that might stimulate discussion on this topic
include:
1. Do you know other farming systems where ducks play a key
role (weeding, fertilization...) as in the Vietnamese
ricefields?
2. Are there economical figures demonstrating the benefit of
raising ducks in the ricefields?
3. Do you have figures on strategic supplementation of ducks
with local feed resources as aquatic plants for protein and
sugarcane or palm juice for energy?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE ROLE OF SCAVENGING DUCKS, DUCKWEED AND FISH IN INTEGRATED
FARMING SYSTEMS IN VIETNAM
Bui Xuan Men
Faculty of Agriculture, Cantho University, Vietnam
E-mail: c/o Dr Thu
thu%cantho2%cantho%sarec%ifs.plants@ox.ac.uk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABSTRACT
There are some 30 million ducks raised annually in Vietnam.
Most are scavengers raised seasonally in rice fields during
the early growth of the crop and immediately post-harvest; and
in backyards or gardens of farm households throughout the
year. Duck and fish production has been expanding and
contributes to increased income and improved living standards
of the farmers, especially for poor farmers in the remote
rural areas.
Trials on using duckweed cultivated as a partial or complete
replacement of protein supplement for feeding crossbred and
Muscovy ducks gave encouraging results. The practice of using
scavenging ducks to control insects and weeds in the rice
fields contributes to decreased investment and brings more
benefits for the farmers. Duckweed grown in the integrated
farming system is also a high quality feed for fish.
KEY WORDS: Ducks, local, scavenging, rice fields, duckweed,
fish
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTRODUCTION
The duck industry in Vietnam is of long standing and plays a
considerable role in providing meat and eggs in the diet of
the people (Men et al., 1991). Ducks are raised throughout the
country but are concentrated in the Mekong and Red River
Deltas, but also in suburban areas of the big cities.
Unlike the Northern countries, duck egg and meat consumption
is expanding in Vietnam and they provide important and
nutritious protein foods for people in both cities and rural
areas, especially the poor farmers in the remote regions. The
products are usually sold at a reasonable price that the poor
can afford and they can be processed into many different
traditional dishes and even special dishes in the restaurants
of the big cities.
The farmers use many traditional systems for raising ducks, of
which the rice-duck system is the most common. In this system
rice production is enhanced due to the ability of the ducks to
control insects and weeds and at the same time excrete manure
which provides nutrients for the growth of the rice plants.
There are also environmental benefits as chemical control of
insect pests and weeds is not needed. Along with the
improvement in rice, the farmers derive more profit from the
ducks because they forage themselves on natural feeds and
left-over rice in the fields which decreases the need for
supplementary feed. Ducks are also commonly allowed to
scavenge in the backyards or gardens of households in small
flocks, receiving household waste or rice to supplement what
they obtain by scavenging.
Today, ducks are also raised in partial confinement, either
for table eggs in coastal areas where shellfish gathered from
the sea are good mineral and protein sources for ducks, or in
areas where they are bred for meat during the dry season in an
integrated fish-duck system. Duck production makes good use of
available labour in rural areas and increases the income of
poor farmers, especially the landless. However, duck producers
have experienced problems since the introduction of high
yielding rice varieties because the time available for duck
flocks to scavenge is limited. Also, the price of feeds,
especially protein supplements, has greatly increased.
Consequently, although consumer demand for duck products is
increasing, the income for farmers is reduced by the high
input costs.
Duckweed (Lemna spp.), which is common throughout the country,
is a tiny water plant that grows very well on the surface of
stagnant ponds all the year round. It can tolerate high
nutrient stress and is able to survive extremely adverse
conditions, and appears to be more resistant to pests and
diseases than other aquatic plants in tropical areas. It has a
high content of nutrients in the DM, especially protein and
carotene, which are necessary for growing animals. Duckweed is
popular in Vietnam as a feed for fish and poultry, so it seems
a useful candidate for development as a year-round feed
resource for ducks and fish within the integrated farming
system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGING DUCKS
BREED
Several breeds of ducks are raised in the country. The two
different species are the common breed and the Muscovy duck.
The common breed is estimated at 80% of the duck population of
the country (Phuoc et al.,1993). They consist mostly of local
and improved breeds and a few exotic strains (Cherry Valley).
Of the local breeds, the first type is the "Tau" or "Co" breed
(grass ducks). This is a laying type that reaches mature body
weights of 1.3 - 1.5kg for females and 1.5 - 1.8kg for males.
Drakes can mate at 120 days of age. The females begin to lay
at 140 days old and achieve an average of 180 eggs per layer
per year with egg weights in excess of 60 g. This breed
tolerates hard conditions of nutrition and management, so they
are well suited to egg and meat production in the remote rural
areas. Also, they are very good at foraging for food such as
insects, water creatures and plants. The mating ratio of males
to females is 1:20-25, but this achieves highly fertile eggs
(over 90%) with high hatchability in traditional hatcheries in
the rural areas, even without electricity. The prices of table
eggs, ducklings and duck meat from these ducks are usually
lower than those of other types because of lower production
costs.
The second group, called "Ta" or "Bau" ducks, is a meat type
that achieves a mature live weight average of 2.5 kg. This
breed is low in reproductive ability and gives low profit to
the producers so the population has been decreasing.
The local Pekin has been imported for a long time and is
genetically poorly defined. It has degenerated into a dual
purpose breed. They achieve live weight gains and finishing
weights slightly higher than the "Tau" or "Co" ducks and the
number of eggs laid appears to be equivalent to the "Co"
breed.
There are several crossbred types which are a combination of
the local and exotic breeds. These are used for meat purposes.
The exotic Cherry Valley type has been imported from Europe
and gives high meat performance but, given the conditions in
which they are bred and raised, productivity and profitability
has declined and the population is decreasing. At present they
are raised for crossing and for meat around some cities. The
Khaki Campbell breed is a laying type imported from Asian
countries which achieves poor performance under the conditions
in Vietnam and the yield of eggs appears to be equivalent to
the local laying type (personal observation).
Muscovy ducks are estimated at some 20% of the population and
numbers have expanded throughout the country. These include
both local and exotic types, and their crosses. The local
breed achieves mature weights from 3-3.5kg for males and
1.8-2kg for females. The female lays on average 40-60 eggs per
year and hatches them herself under extensive conditions. The
Muscovies are suitable for smallholders with small flocks
because they are easy to manage and can consume different
feeds in the farming system. Also, the ducklings or table
ducks are usually sold at a higher price than common ducks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGING DUCKS IN THE INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM
DUCK RAISING ALONG WITH GROWING RICE
The ducks selected for this purpose are commonly the local
laying type or local Pekin breed due to their small body size.
They do not harm the plants, are active and forage well when
herded. In the brooding stage, after the first week of age,
the ducklings are driven into the rice fields from 20 days
after transplanting until the plants begin to flower. In the
young rice fields, the ducklings can catch destructive insects
such as white or brown hoppers, leaf insects, mosquito larvae,
spiders, small shellfish and fish. During scavenging, the
ducks consume weeds and stir and loosen mud around the rice
roots with their beaks without harming the rice plants. In
addition, they excrete manure to fertilize and stimulate the
growth of the rice. Insecticide and herbicide inputs are
rendered unnecessary, and labour for weeding is reduced. The
reduction in chemicals is beneficial to the environment.
The ducks are supplemented with feed consisting of by-products
of rice or rice grain, 3-4 times daily depending on feed
availability in the rice fields.
After the rice plants start flowering, the ducks are driven
from the rice fields to the canals, ditches, lakes and swamps
to forage in the water. The duck raising season usually lasts
for 3 months producing males for meat and females which
continue to lay eggs in the post-harvest rice fields. The
culled ducks are sold in the market.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DUCK RAISING IN THE POST-HARVEST RICE FIELDS
Along with laying ducks, the table ducks or ducks for meat are
reared in the rice fields post-harvest. Generally farmers
purchase ducklings from the hatcheries 3-4 weeks before the
rice harvest. The ducks usually selected are the native meat
type, local Pekin, crossbred local x Cherry Valley or Cherry
Valley.
After 3 weeks of age when the ducklings can consume whole rice
grains, they are permitted to enter the newly harvested rice
fields. They forage the whole day on leftover or fallen rice
grains, insects, shellfish, small frog and fish, and water
plants. In the late afternoon, they are moved to pens or sheds
on the dikes near the household until next morning. The ducks
raised at this time are usually finished at 2.5-3 months of
age, and achieve live weights of 1.6-2.0kg for the crossbred
Cherry Valley.
Now, most varieties of high yielding rice are planted and
harvested within a short period with only a limited time
available for the duck flocks to scavenge, so this traditional
system is becoming less feasible. In order to solve the
problem, a trial was recently carried out, feeding a
supplement of broken rice and crushed, dried fish (CDF) to
crossbred meat ducks (Cherry Valley hybrid x local Pekin)
herded in rice fields post-harvest, in order to shorten the
time to finish and improve the meat quality. Three supplements
of 50g/duck/day of a mixture of broken rice (80%) and CDF
(20%), 50g/day broken rice or 20g/day of CDF were given each
evening to the ducks, and compared with no supplementary feed.
The live weights at 70 days of age were 1855, 1749, 1659 and
1592g (P<0.001) and daily live weight gains 34, 30, 28 and
27g, respectively (Men et al.1995).
The results of the trial show that supplementation with broken
rice alone or a mixture of broken rice and crushed-dried fish
to scavenging crossbred meat ducks significantly improved the
daily gain and carcass quality, and would shorten the time to
market. This trial demonstrates a strategy for improvement of
the traditional method of the farmers in order to meet the
increasing demands of consumers for high quality duck meat,
and is consistent with today's rice cultivating conditions in
the country.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGING DUCKS IN THE BACKYARD OR GARDEN
The system is common to most smallholders. Small flocks of
ducks from 5-50 head, producing eggs for the table or fertile
eggs for meat production or combining both, are allowed to run
loose in the backyards and gardens, and are fed household
wastes or rice 2-3 times per day and obtain other feeds from
scavenging in the ditches, canals, ponds or part of the rice
fields near the home. This system is very suitable for home
consumption of the products by the poor farmers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DUCKWEED (Lemna minor)
Duckweed is a small floating aquatic plant that grows very
well on stagnant ponds and is commonly found throughout the
country. It has a high content of nutrients, particularly
protein and carotene, and tolerates adverse conditions such as
nutrient stress and attacks by pests and diseases. Duckweed
gives a high biomass yield as a result of rapid reproduction
and growth. When effectively managed, yields of 10 tonnes
DM/ha/year are possible (Preston, 1995).
Duckweed can be collected daily when grown on ponds manured
with effluent from biodigester systems and home waste, and
produce an average of 100g (38.6% CP of DM) fresh weight per
square metre (Men, 1995). Duckweed protein has a better
composition of essential amino acids than most vegetable
proteins and closely resembles animal protein (Culley, 1978).
Duckweed has long been used in poultry diets (Lautner, 1954).
Fresh duckweed (26.3% of DM) was used to replace soya beans at
levels from 19-27% in diets for fattening ducks at Cantho
University in Vietnam. There were no adverse effects on
health, but the reductions in growth rate and feed conversion
efficiency were considerable when duckweed replaced more than
20% of soybean protein (Becera et al.1994).
Recently, an experiment was carry out on crossbred ducks fed
roasted whole soya beans replaced by duckweed (38.6% CP in DM)
at levels of 0,30,45,60 and 100% in the diet (Men et al.,
1995). Daily gains of ducks fed duckweed were higher than
those of ducks fed a conventional diet because the duckweed ,
which was grown and managed well, had high nutrient
concentrations, especially of CP and carotene.
If duckweed is grown and collected by household farmers, the
feed cost could decrease 48%. However, feed conversion ratios
tended to be poorer on the diets with duckweed due to their
low energy compared to the control diet. In another
experiment, local Pekin were fed fresh duckweed ad libitum
(40% CP in DM) in limited broken rice diets at levels 80 and
60g/day compared to ad libitum feeding (Men et al., 1995).
Results obtained showed that the ducks with live weights of
1.5-1.6 kg can consume an average of 870g fresh duckweed per
day in the growing stage. The final weights and weight gains
of the ducks fed 80g broken rice were slightly lower than
those fed rice ad libitum, but the difference was not
significant.
Muscovy ducks are known to like duckweed very much. In 1994, a
trial was carried out on growing exotic female Muscovies at
Cantho University, where 15 and 30% of the dietary protein was
replaced by fresh duckweed from 28 to 70 days of age and
compared to a conventional diet (Men et al., 1994). At
finishing, daily gains were 37, 36 and 34g (P<0.001) and feed
conversion rates were 3, 3.3, 3.5, respectively.
Correspondingly, the cost of feed decreased by 15 and 26%
compared to the control diet.
In another trial, Men et al. (1995) fed local female Muscovies
on duckweed ad libitum with a limited amount of broken rice at
levels of 80 and 60g/day compared to ad libitum feeding from
28 to 70 day of age. Results achieved showed that local female
Muscovies consumed fresh duckweed less than the local Pekins
(325 vs 817g) and daily gains were 25, 20, 18g, respectively.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FISH IN THE INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM
Fish is a common food for Vietnamese people. Wild freshwater
fish are caught in many ways. At present, because of
indiscriminate exploitation, environmental damage caused by
overuse of agricultural chemicals and serious pollution caused
by humans, the precious food source is becoming impoverished.
In order to solve the problem, many farmers raise fish
profitably in ponds, even rice fields, in the integrated
farming system. The main feed sources for fish continues to be
based on natural aquatic creatures and plant feeds that grow
and develop themselves in the pondwater. In some regions,
farmers raise fish on feeds such as grass, weeds, leaves,
by-products from agricultural processing or animal manure and
obtained good results with fast growth of the fish. However,
the feeds only contribute about 20% of the requirements of the
fish (personal observation).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DUCKWEED AS A FEED FOR FISH
Many trials have been carried out using duckweed as the major
feed to raise fish, with good results (Journey et al. 1991),
but, so far, this is fairly rare in Vietnam. The farmers in
the Mekong and Red Deltas and around Ho Chi Minh city use
duckweed as a partial or complete feed for growing fish and
get excellent results. The farmers in the Mekong Delta feed
duckweed to breeding fish to increase reproductive
performance.
Most of the fish species living in fresh water are known to
like to eat duckweed very much, especially Tilapia, carp,
catfish, Mekong catfish, gourami, etc. Duckweed is convenient
and fairly easy to manage because it is grown in the ponds on
stored waste water. It utilises the nutrients and contributes
to a clean environment. Children or women in the households
can take part in managing and collecting duckweed to feed
fish. The farmers can control the amount of feed to the fish
easily by observation and prevent excessive growth, thus
protecting the fishes' environment (personal observation).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
There is no doubt about the role of scavenging ducks, fish and
duckweed in the integrated farming system in Vietnam today.
They produce truly sustainable economic benefits to the
smallholder farmers. The results achieved in the experiments
and practices show that the development is based on scientific
logic under natural and social conditions that avoid damage to
the living environment and improve living standards of the
people, of which 80% are working in the agricultural domain.
Development of scavenging ducks and fish, based on renewable
local feed resources such as duckweed in integrated farming
systems, is an actual revolution and is consistent with the
strategy to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in the
country. However, in order to make further progress, the
detailed parameters of using scavenging ducks and their
influence on the environment, soil fertility, and other
effects, need to be investigated. There is also a need to look
at which species of fish are most suited to feeding on
duckweed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper is based on studies and findings in Vietnam with
the help of advisers: Dr T R Preston, Dr Brian Ogle and with
the encouragement of Dr Rene Sansoucy, Dr Andrew Speedy, and
Dr Christophe Dalibard. I would like to thank them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REFERENCES
Becerra, M., Ogle, B. and Preston T. R. 1994. Effect of
replacing whole boiled soybeans with duckweed (Lemna sp) in
the diets of growing ducks. Livestock Research for Rural
Development. Volume 7, Number 3, 44.8Kb.
Culley, D. D., Jr. and Epps, E. A. 1973. Use of duckweed for
waste treatment and animal feed. Journal Water Pollution
Control Federation. Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 337-347.
Hillman, W. S., Culley, D. D. and Jr. 1978. The Use of
Duckweed. American Scientist. Volume 66, pp. 442-450.
Journey, W. K., Skillicorn, P. and Spira, W. 1991. Duckweed
Aquaculture - A New Aquatic Farming System for Developing
Countries. The World Bank. 76pp. Washington DC.
Leng, R. A., Stambolie, J. H. and Bell, R. 1995. Duckweed - a
potential high-protein feed resource for domestic animals and
fish. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 7
Number 1, 36 Kb
Men, B. X and Su, V. V. 1991. "A" molasses in diets for
growing ducks. Livestock Research for Rural Development.
Volume 2, No 3.
Men, B. X., Ogle, B. and Preston, T. R. 1995. Use of
restricted broken rice in duckweed based diets for feeding
growing Common and Muscovy ducks. (Unpublished data, Vietnam).
Men, B. X. and Preston, T. R. 1994. Use of duckweed as partial
replacements for protein supplement in diets for feeding
exotic Muscovy ducks. (Unpublished data, Vietnam).
Preston, T. R. 1995. Reserch, Extention and training for
Sustainable Farming Systems in the Tropics. Livestock Research
for Rural Development. Volume 7, Number 2, 84Kb.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FAO ELECTRONIC CONFERENCE:
LIVESTOCK FEED RESOURCES WITHIN INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DISCLAIMER: Neither the conference organizers nor FAO accept
any legal responsibility for either the contents of this
message or any copyright laws that the person sending this
electronic message may have violated.
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| Message 5 |
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Subject: Help with Costa Rica property
From: Jose Pelleya
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 09:37:04 -0600
Dedar Gordon:
I am very interested in your article, and additional info on your state of
the art plantation and greenhouse in Honduras.
I am looking at a property here in Costa Rica with 70,000 s' under 65%
shade netting and a 1,200 s' fiberglass hothouse on 5 acres, with a
beautiful 1,600 s' house with 5 bedrooms, lovely river running through it
with huge trees. I'm thinking of botanical plantation, cutting
propagation, some intensive Tilapia and rearing of fingerlings, a butterfly
farm, with a small B and B to go with it.
I have lots of tourism experience, but little horticultural knowledge.
What's the highest and best use of such a setup? I'm in Costa Rica, the
area here is 600 msnm, with warm climate yearround, marked dry season from
December to April, 2100 mm rain the rest of the year.
Can you give me some help/direction? Property is for sale at $170,000, so I
need to make it produce enough to cover mortgage from the growing, the B
and B (and living) is extra. Plan to promote it as a tourist destination
(only 45 minutes West from downtown San Jose, near Atenas), to see flowers,
medicinal plants, etc, but need a cash crop to go with it.
Any help is appreciated (partners too!!).
Jose
At 10:44 AM 5/6/99 EDT, you wrote:
>In hydroponic greenhouses around the world I have help set up I always
>install a mist bench for cuttings this improves root time and plant
>production by 70%.My latest article will be on a state of the art plantation
>and aquaponics greenhouse in Honduras this will descibe the building of a
>mist area for hardwood cuttings and a special cactus for fruit production
> Gordon Creaser
>
Thought for the day:
I'm not into working out. My philosophy: No pain, no pain.
-- Carol Leifer
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| Message 6 |
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Subject: Re: Help with Costa Rica property
From: Adriana Gutierrez & Dennis LaGatta
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 13:40:51 -0400
Gosh Jose,
It sounds like paradise! I have all of 3 months horticultural
experience, can I sign up? However I wonder if Costa Rican prices can
support a mortgage of that magnitude...
Adriana
Jose Pelleya wrote:
>
> Dedar Gordon:
>
> I am very interested in your article, and additional info on your state of
> the art plantation and greenhouse in Honduras.
>
> I am looking at a property here in Costa Rica with 70,000 s' under 65%
> shade netting and a 1,200 s' fiberglass hothouse on 5 acres, with a
> beautiful 1,600 s' house with 5 bedrooms, lovely river running through it
> with huge trees. I'm thinking of botanical plantation, cutting
> propagation, some intensive Tilapia and rearing of fingerlings, a butterfly
> farm, with a small B and B to go with it.
>
> I have lots of tourism experience, but little horticultural knowledge.
>
> What's the highest and best use of such a setup? I'm in Costa Rica, the
> area here is 600 msnm, with warm climate yearround, marked dry season from
> December to April, 2100 mm rain the rest of the year.
>
> Can you give me some help/direction? Property is for sale at $170,000, so I
> need to make it produce enough to cover mortgage from the growing, the B
> and B (and living) is extra. Plan to promote it as a tourist destination
> (only 45 minutes West from downtown San Jose, near Atenas), to see flowers,
> medicinal plants, etc, but need a cash crop to go with it.
>
> Any help is appreciated (partners too!!).
>
> Jose
>
> At 10:44 AM 5/6/99 EDT, you wrote:
> >In hydroponic greenhouses around the world I have help set up I always
> >install a mist bench for cuttings this improves root time and plant
> >production by 70%.My latest article will be on a state of the art plantation
> >and aquaponics greenhouse in Honduras this will descibe the building of a
> >mist area for hardwood cuttings and a special cactus for fruit production
> > Gordon Creaser
> >
>
> Thought for the day:
>
> I'm not into working out. My philosophy: No pain, no pain.
>
> -- Carol Leifer
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| Message 7 |
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Subject: RE: duckweed
From: "Alejandro Gallardo"
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 11:58:39 -0600
Thanks, José.
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| Message 8 |
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Subject: Re: drippers
From: "Harley Smith"
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 14:10:16 -0400
Could you have Mark send us a sample? Or could you give us his phone
number so that we can give him a call?
Thanks!
Harley Smith
Superior Growers Supply, Inc.
4870 Dawn Ave.
East Lansing, MI 48823
800-227-002
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| Message 9 |
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Subject: Re: duckweed
From: "vpage"
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 12:37:50 -0600
Jose,
the article on duckweed is fascinating.
We expel our waste water from the tilapia into a wetland. We buy some ducks
and geese every year for mosquito and fly control. It is very effective.
They also consume the waste from the greenhouse.
Our ducks and geese share the wetland with migrants which I am sure they
envy.
Our only problem is, being vegetarians and never knowing what to do with our
birds when winter sets in.
Integrated farming, which I have seen in Honduras and Mexico seems to me to
be the answer to economic independence-we are trying to mimic it ever so
poorly.
Thanks for the good read
VPage
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| Message 10 |
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Subject: Re: Help with Costa Rica property
From: "vpage"
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 12:54:28 -0600
Jose,
the trick is to find out what greenhouse products you can market.
one footprint of tilapia operation can supply 10 or more footprints of
greenhouse. In the tropics where heating is not a problem this is very
sensible use of the waste water. The water will be cleaned enough by some
crops that it is reoxygenated and denitrified enough to return to the fish
house.
It is my experience that tilapia waste water will grow almost any green
leafed product with ease.
It makes more scintific sense to test the waste water for nutrient content
and to match the crop to it. Without added feeding you can save money on
fertilizers and you can be closer to environmentally sustainable production.
My watercress went crazy.
I had success with some tomatoes, basil, strawberries, Chinese eggplant and
the cantaloupe were outstanding. Other things that grew well such as ginger
and cardamon grow in the wild in Costa Rica so may not be in demand.
Note:Some crops are labour intensive and some are less so.
Just musing of the top of my had -there is crazy trade in exotic flowers
such as Birds of Paradise -what's the one with a pink pineapple plant type
of flower-Crotons?No --This is by guess and by golly so The British Virgin
Is. people and Mr..Creaser and the many gardeners listening can be much more
help.
VPage
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| Message 11 |
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Subject: Fw: Delivery failure (aquaponics@townsquare.com)
From: "vpage"
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 13:02:18 -0600
A note that I received from a colleague. Perhaps of interest to the genetic
strains conversation that we were recently having
VPage
>Just a little info from my wanderings that seem to be relevant to this
>email.
>
>1) The florida reds are the same as the reddish white ones (with black
>spots) that we have mixed in, except that they have been more line bred for
>color. In 1988, I was told by the guy that bought some then, that they
were
>a four way hybrid, I would assume Aurea, Mosambicca, Nilotica and Hornorum.
>I strongly suspect that they have been line bred since then.
>
>2) One of the reasons the "rocky mountain white" is preferred is that is
>has a reputation among the retailers for very good survival. Apparently
>Erwin Young figured shipping out before most people, and he had whites.
>This preference for white fish only seems to exist where he shipped from 10
>to 5 years ago.
>
>3) I have been told by a couple of people that even the strains that are
>called "mosambica" or "nilotica" on this continent are not thought to be
>pure strains. There are only a couple of times fish have been brought in
>from wild stock, which was over 30 years ago. We have strains, not
>species, in most people's opinion. If someone claims to have a pure
strain, odds are it's pure
>fantasy. That of course doesn't mean they're bad fish.......
>
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| Message 12 |
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Subject: RE: Propagation of cuttings
From: james.rakocy@uvi.edu (James Rakocy, Ph.D.)
Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 17:48:53 -0400 (AST)
Alejandro, In our commercial scale system, which ran for 3 years, COD
averaged 45-48 mg/L at different points in the system. COD is much faster
and easier to measure than BOD. BOD will always to less than COD. In
general it is not high. Our water is very clear by the end of the treatment
process and total suspended solids are only 3.5 mg/L. The amount of duckweed
will depend more on nutrient levels than BOD. We can manipulate
nitrate-nitrogen, which will vary from 1 to >100 mg/L. I found that duckweed
removes nitrogen at rates varying from 200 mg to 320 mg/m2/day depending on
loading rate. It removes more nitrogen at higher loading rates. Duckweed is
not too good at removing BOD because the water under duckweed is shaded and
will become anaerobic. BOD will be removed primarily by settling of
suspended organic matter. To remove BOD it would be better to aerate
vigorously and maintain high dissolved oxygen levels. Remember that BOD is a
measure of the oxygen required to break down organic matter, so you need
lots of oxygen to make the process work. Jim R.
>
>This is a question for James Rakocy and another one for any one.
>
>To James: What is the expected BOD for high density culture of tilapia
>(say 76 org/m3)?
>
>To anyone: Does any body know how much area do you need for treating waste
>water from a tilapia culture (hiperintensive) with duckweed? Where can I
>find such information?
S&S Aqua Farm, 8386 County Road 8820, West Plains, MO 65775 417-256-5124
Web page http://www.townsqr.com/snsaqua/
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