Source: Wild Wonderings Blog, Fisheries.tamu.edu and AquaPlant.tamu.edu
When having issues with managing duckweed, there are multiple methods that may be used to efficiently reduce or remove this problematic species.
Chemical Treatments to Control Duckweed:
- Flumioxazin is an excellent, low cost contact herbicide, that costs between $75 and $145 per acre, but requires contact every plant, must be sprayed over the entire water surface, and requires one to two treatments a year.
- Diquat has a fair to good success ratio, it is a low cost contact herbicide, that costs between $125 and $250 per acre, but it requires contact with every plant, so it must be sprayed over the entire water surface. It requires one to four treatments a year.
Chemical Treatments to Eradicate Duckweed:
- Fluridone is a long lasting systemic herbicide that offers a good chance of eradicating the species and can simply be poured into the water, but is pricey at $625 to $1,250 per acre.
- Penoxsulam is somewhat long lasting systemic herbicide that offers perhaps the best chance to eradicate the species and can be poured in the water, but costs $555-2,572 per acre.
Other Options:
- Aeration is great for the fish and healthy bacteria and it will help deepen a pond by digesting any organic sludge that has built up
- Using fish to control duckweed is a common remedy. Tilapia manage duckweed and remove up to 20%, but it may not have any effect when stocked in ponds with existing bass populations
Additional information on Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Aquaculture, Fisheries and Pond Management
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