These aquatic plants are indispensable in crayfish farming

Crayfish farming is extremely popular, and everyone wants to get into it. Lobster Says editor here - I am in Qianjiang, the "Mecca" of crayfish farming. To raise crayfish well, aquatic plants are indispensable. Today let's discuss aquatic plants.

The main submerged plants planted over large areas in crayfish ponds are currently three of the most common types: Hydrilla verticillata (hydrilla), Elodea (Canadian waterweed), and Potamogeton crispus (curly pondweed).

Hydrilla verticillata (hydrilla)

Hydrilla verticillata starts from turions, with planting time from December to February of the following year, and March to June as the planting time for fresh plants. Its main characteristics are tolerance to high temperatures and no pollution of pond water quality.

Hydrilla turions

To cultivate Hydrilla verticillata successfully, the best method is to use enclosure nets. When the plants become dominant, remove the enclosure nets.

Planting plants with enclosure nets

Elodea (Canadian waterweed)

Elodea is fresh, tender and crisp, with extremely strong adaptability, rooting at every node. It can grow abundantly when the temperature is above 5°C. It is a high-quality, fast-growing, high-yield submerged plant. Its disadvantage is that it is not tolerant to high temperatures, easily dies in high temperatures, and easily rots.

Elodea is not the best aquatic plant for crayfish farming. Farmers in Hubei, especially intensive farming operations, are gradually phasing out this aquatic plant.

Potamogeton crispus (curly pondweed)

The preferred submerged plant for crayfish farming, and the first choice for rice-crayfish systems. Potamogeton crispus is generally sown in mid-October, when rice is also harvested. After land preparation, Potamogeton crispus is scattered, sprouting in autumn and growing in winter. When our wheat matures, this aquatic plant then ends its mission. At this time, the rice-crayfish period is basically over, and it does not compete for space with the rice field. If the crayfish cannot eat it all, Potamogeton crispus can continue to grow the following year.

Floating plants

Generally dominated by Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligator weed) and water hyacinth, with coverage not too high.

Emergent plants

Vallisneria (tape grass) is the most common. Vallneria is not simple to plant for crayfish farming.

Vallisneria seeded in early September has already grown new roots after transplanting.

To farm crayfish, you must grow plants. Especially for intensive crayfish ponds, aquatic plants are even more necessary. The quality of aquatic plants determines to a certain extent the market quality of crayfish. Planting several kinds of aquatic plants can achieve good results. I hope you who farm crayfish will succeed in crayfish farming and realize your original aspiration.