Where can I buy water lettuce seeds? What are the seedling raising methods?
Water lettuce is also called water cabbage, and it can be found in many regions of China, especially in the tropical areas of Fujian, Taiwan, China, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces where wild plants are often seen. Water lettuce can be used as pigfeed and also has medicinal value, so it is cultivated in some areas. So if you want to cultivate it, where can you buy water lettuce seeds? What are the seedling raising methods? Let's find out below.
Where can you buy water lettuce seeds?
There are many purchasing channels for water lettuce seeds. You can buy them at local seed stores, agricultural supply stores, flower and nursery stock markets, and you can also buy them online. When buying seeds, many people care about the price. At present, the wholesale price of water lettuce seeds in Jinjiang District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province is 2.6 yuan/plant, the wholesale price of water lettuce seeds in Erqi District, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province is 3 yuan/plant, and the wholesale price of water lettuce seeds in Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province is 3 yuan/plant. This price comes from the place-of-origin wholesale prices on Nongxun Network, and is for reference only!
What value does water lettuce have?
Water lettuce is rich in nutrients and contains relatively little crude fiber. The whole plant of water lettuce contains about 1.25% protein, 0.75 fat, 9% carbohydrates and starch, as well as a small amount of minerals and vitamins. It is a pig feed with high yield, easy cultivation, soft texture, high nutritional value, and good palatability. In order to adapt to the continuous development of the pig farming industry and expand the source of green feed, stocking water lettuce is of great significance.
What are the seedling raising methods for water lettuce?
1. Methods
Under natural conditions, water lettuce mainly relies on asexual reproduction. Water lettuce flowers and sets seed inconsistently, and in the hot and rainy summer season it blooms and sets seed successively. In Jiangsu and Zhejiang it blooms in July, and in Beijing it blooms in August. It takes 60-80 days from flowering to seed maturity, and after the seeds mature, the pericarp splits open and they fall into the water. Mature seeds can also be used for propagation. The thousand-grain weight of the seeds is 1.55 grams. In the southwestern region, asexual reproduction is the main method.
2. Fertilization
In places where the temperature is not lower than 10°C, it can be stocked year-round, while in places with frost in winter it needs protection to overwinter, and when the spring temperature rises above 15°C it can be taken outdoors for stocking. During large-scale stocking, pay attention to fertilization, weed control, pest and disease control, and timely harvesting. Water lettuce is a fertilizer-loving plant, and sufficient fertilizer gives high yield. In order to ensure the rapid growth and reproduction of water lettuce, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied, and topdressing should be done frequently with decomposed organic fertilizer.
3. Pest and disease control
The main pests and diseases of water lettuce are aphids, leaf rollers, green caterpillars, powder beetles, and verticillium wilt. The most harmful are aphids and verticillium wilt. To control aphids, 75% imidacloprid 2 grams can be mixed with 15 kilograms of water and sprayed. After verticillium wilt appears, it spreads very quickly and should be controlled early. 60% zineb can be mixed with water at 800 times and sprayed. To control leaf rollers, green caterpillars, and powder beetles, 90% monosultap 20 grams can be mixed with 15 kilograms of water and sprayed. After spraying pesticide, the safe interval must pass before feeding livestock to prevent poisoning.
4. Harvesting
After water lettuce covers the water surface, it can be harvested as needed. Each harvest should preferably not exceed 50%, as this helps the seedlings continue to reproduce. At the same time, spread the remaining plants evenly to promote uniform growth. Its yield is 25,000-50,000 kilograms/667 sq m, and high-yield fields can reach 75,000 kilograms/666.7 sq m.
The above is an introduction to water lettuce. This aquatic plant can be seen everywhere, but many people do not know that it has these uses. If you understand it now, you can consider planting it if needed. It is simple and easy to manage, and using it as pig feed can effectively improve pig growth benefits.
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