Key takeaways for pond aeration

  • Aeration relieves the low dissolved oxygen levels caused by large duckweed populations and the chemical treatments that treat duckweed.
  • Duckweeds are typically found in still, nutrient rich waters. Aeration eliminates still, stagnant water.

General takeaways

  • Duckweeds’ small size allows for easy transport by birds, water currents, and boats, contributing to its spread.
  • Duckweeds represent five genera of small floating aquatic plants in the Araxeae subfamily Lemnoideae and include 35 species worldwide.
  • Authors separate duckweed species based on:
    • Frond size, number and shape
    • Root structure or lack thereof
  • Using Grass carp is not a reliable means of managing duckweed due to high stocking requirements and fish size restrictions. Larger fish are no longer effective at straining small plants.
  • Duckweed in the Wolffia (Watermeal) genus are the size of a sugar crystal and are harder to control.
  • Watermeal duckweed are tolerant to Diquat, so foliar applications alone are not recommended to control this plant.
  • Using a combination of systemic and contact herbicides may improve effectiveness and provide longer-term control.