Water hyacinth is a tiny green aquatic plant that looks like fish eggs. When gathered together in groups, they float on the surface of the water as a raft. They are often found in still water sources such as ponds, marshes, or river bends. Especially in areas with still and clean water. Before cooking, they should be washed thoroughly to remove dirt. However, the benefits and nutritional value of water hyacinth are numerous.

Water hyacinth is well known for its delicious taste and high nutritional value, especially protein found up to 40% by dry weight, making it a good source of protein comparable to soybeans. And in some areas, the right environment can make water hyacinth have higher protein than meat and chicken eggs.

How to grow truffle eggs yourself

General characteristics of water eggs

Water fern (Wolffia arrhiza (L.) Wimm.) or locally known as “phum” or “phum eggs” is a small floating aquatic plant found in swamps or stagnant water. The shape is a round or almost round green pellet with a diameter of 0.5-1.5 millimeters. Each plant is green, has no roots, no leaves. The plant is mostly composed of parenchyma cells with air spaces between the cells, making it look like a sponge and helping it float in the water. It is the smallest plant in the world.

The nutritional composition of water eggs found that they contain protein, beta-carotene, and chlorophyll from photosynthesis. Water eggs contain the same amount of protein as various types of beans, grains, high in fiber, and the amount of essential amino acids as chicken eggs, spirulina, and chlorella. In addition, chlorophyll in water eggs contains more antioxidants than in spirulina. Which can be used to treat constipation and treat anemia in people with anemia. The benefits of water eggs can be used to cook traditional food in the North and Northeast, such as Kaeng Om, Kaeng Kua, Steamed eggs, Omelette, etc., and can be eaten.

Nutritional value of truffles (edible portion 100g)

– Water : 97.1 g – Energy : 9 Kcal
– Protein : 0.6 g – Fat : 0.1 g
– Carbohydrate : 1.5 g – Dietary fiber : 0.3 g
– Ash : 0.7 g – Calcium : 59 mg
– Phosphorus : 25 mg – Iron : 6.6 mg
– Vitamin A : 535 mg – Vitamin C : 11 mg
– Thiamine (Vitamin B1) : 0.03 mg
– Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) : 0.09 mg
– Niacin (Vitamin B3) : 0.4 mg

(Nutrition Division, Department of Health, 2001. Table showing the nutritional value of Thai foods in 100 grams of edible portions.)

Benefits for freshwater aquaculture

1. The eggs of the truffle are released into the ponds of fish that eat plants, such as Nile tilapia, carp, and common carp, to provide a natural supplement for the fish. However, they are released in small quantities and the quantity must be controlled so that they do not spread and cover the water surface. Because the truffles will spread and cover the entire water surface, causing the water to have low oxygen and obstructing the fish’s breathing in the pond.

2. Used for releasing into wastewater treatment ponds to reduce water pollution, especially nitrogen, which is an important mineral for growth, and various heavy metals.

Propagation of water eggs

The propagation of aquatic eggs is by budding, asexual reproduction, budding occurs every 5-6 days by budding starting from a button at the tip of the plant and growing larger until it falls off. The average lifespan of the mother plant is 15 days. The number of aquatic egg plants that sprout increases to the maximum on around the 12th day. In unsuitable environments, when the water dries up or the amount of nutrients in the water decreases, the aquatic eggs will enter the resting phase. The aquatic eggs will stick to the roots of duckweed or aquatic plants, look like a single-celled, small, round, hard green pellets, and sink into the bottom of the pond.

In a hatching state called turion or locals call it a “hang hen” and can grow again when the environment is suitable again when the rainy season comes the following year. For small ponds, cement ponds, basins or plastic ponds, when there is a lack of nutrients in the pond, fertilizer must be added. The aquatic eggs will grow again immediately, ready to reproduce.

Propagation of truffles in cement ponds (by the Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Center, Phichit)

1.Materials and equipment

1.1 Round cement pond, diameter 120 centimeters

1.2 NPK fertilizer formula 15-15-15, amount used 10 grams per 100 liters of water.

1.3 Tamarind juice 100 ml per 100 liters of water.

1.4 Phum species 100 grams per square meter

1.5 Cover the pond to allow light to pass through (prevents leaves or dirt from falling into the pond)

2. Method of operation

2.1 Clean the cement pond, add clean water to the pond to a depth of 25 centimeters, then calculate the volume of water in the pond to add fertilizer, the volume of water is 237 liters.

2.2 Weigh 23.7 grams of chemical fertilizer and dissolve it in water. Stir until the fertilizer is completely dissolved. Pour it into the prepared pond and stir the fertilizer water with the pond water until it is well blended.

2.3 Weigh 95 grams of the taro and release it into the prepared pond.

2.4 Leave the mushrooms for about 7 days before harvesting (yielding 500-650 grams per pond)

2.5 Continuous harvesting of truffles: Every 7 days, collect about 2/3 of the pond’s worth of truffles, add 1 tablespoon of fertilizer (dissolve in water and add) to provide nutrients for the truffles, and every 15 days, clean and suck out the sediment at the bottom of the pond to remove waste and dirt.

2.6 Always check the purity of the mushrooms. There may be some duckweed mixed in. Always remove them.

2.7 If green algae appear, correct it by adjusting the pH of the water to between 5.5-6.5.

2.8 Found bloodworms or larvae of aquatic insects as food for fish. Or if not wanted, should change the charcoal regularly to remove bloodworms from the pond (in ufabet https://ufabet999.app case of consumption)

3. Water quality

3.1 pH 8.0

3.2 Alkalinity 102 mg/L

3.3 Ammonia(NH4,NH3) 5 mg/L