Tagasaste in aquaponics?

[mcfarm]

Has anyone tried growing Tagasaste in an aquaponics system? If so how, and what were the results like?

[GaryD]

Hi McFarm,

Tagasaste (Tree Lucerne) is probably a bit large (3 - 4 metres high) to grow in most aquaponics systems but it is certainly a useful shrub for micro-farmers. The foliage is edible by most livestock, chickens like the seedpods and the branches make useful kindling. Tagasaste is a legume so growing it will benefit the soil in which it grows.

Gary

[mcfarm]

Hi Gary,

They grow to about 5 metres in my region and if fertilized have 25% protein and live for about 25 to 30 years. All stock eat the leaves and it's not bad in salads either, but not when flowering as the leaves become bitter.

So I was thinking of having them in 200L used olive barrels I can get for $5 EACH, probably media filled and flood and drain. I believe I will get one small bail equivalent or more (20kg dry matter) out of each tree per annum with 5 or more prunings after year 4. Pruning will keep them smallish too. Only concern will be keeping the roots from blocking the drain, but I suppose a rotatable perforated pipe larger than the stand pipe would work.

Tagasaste don't like having wet feet and are drought tolerant, so one flood and drain per daylight hour should do it. Might even be able to double or treble the time intervals in winter and have no flooding at night.

My main concern is how long can a tree survive in this type of system? Annual veggies are not and issue, you pull em out and replace them when ripe/ready, but perennials?

[GaryD]

Hi McFarm,

My main concern is how long can a tree survive in this type of system? Annual veggies are not and issue, you pull em out and replace them when ripe/ready, but perennials?

Experience around trees/shrubs in aquaponics is limited. I'm aware of dwarf fruit trees and pawpaw trees that are in their second and third years.

Have you tried growing pigeon peas? They're another large shrub and they are similarly useful as a fodder plant.........and they may be even better suited to growing in pots than Tagasaste.

Gary

[fishfood]

I have a lemon in its third year

[mcfarm]

Maybe I've been going about this the wrong way and should not be trying to make a tree fit the system. So it would be better to find a fodder plant that goes ballistic when in an aquaponics system. A high protein (probably legume), palatable plant that grows like a weed in aquaponics is what's needed.

Time to do some trials, any suggestions for species?

[MarkEinOz]

Hey McFarm,

On the basis of your requirements, the best plant would possibly be Amaranth, especially the Leaf Amaranth varieties. Between 17-35% protein.

http://www.edenseeds.com.au/content/...id=5&section=1

[GaryD]

Hi,

Have you considered Sudax?

It's a hybrid resulting from crossing two varieties of sorghum grasses.

I haven't heard much about it for a long time. We grew it as poultry forage many years ago and I remember that it grew quickly.

We used to harvest the grass.....it had to be over a certain height or it was toxic to certain livestock (cattle if I recall).

Might be worth a look depending on what you plan to do with it.


Gary

[Who Me]

Hi all,
my first post outside the intro :-)

Ahh humble thought, would it be better to work out what you're trying to feed?
If its say cattle, then tagasaste is quite good but my experience it it needs to be pruned prior to grazing, cattle chase the newer shoots but also are able to get into the shrub to get more out of it. Hydro/aqua ponics not the best perhaps.

if it's to feed sheep, same deal however there is a "weeping" variety that's easy to get going, seedlings used to be available in WA at Whispering Gums Nursery at Beverley. No lopping or pruning required.

Maybe a better option if space is at a premium is Fodder Factory type arrangements growing grass out of the aqua-waste? As a general rule 1 tonne of seed in produces 7-10 tonne of green feed out in around 7-10 days, lots quicker if you pre soak the seed, Usually barley or even wheat but think the best return is out of barley seed.

Tagasaste has its place, the sand plain country north of Perth (W.A.) have benefited greatly from Tagasaste, yet many southerners, way down south think its a vile weed. IMHO its a great plant with much potential if used right :-)

[GaryD]

Hi,

Tagasaste is also great poultry fodder. Chickens will eat the foliage and the seed pods.

I like hydro fodder, too. The big problem in Queensland is that (due to humidity) mould will usually put a stop to any production that is not happening in very clean, climate-controlled situations.

Gary