Process and apparatus for commercial farming of marine and freshwater hydrophytes

摘要

The disclosure relates to the propagation and cultivation of freshwater and marine plants. These freshwater or marine plants are found naturally in underwater, floating or air-water interface habitats where sufficient illumination, nutrients and moisture are available to sustain life. A process is disclosed in which freshwater and marine macrophytes are cultivated in a water charged atmosphere, rather than in their native freshwater or marine environments, under precise control of such critical growing conditions as light, temperature, nutrient supply and disease control. Carbon dioxide, a plant nutrient is introduced into the atmosphere or into the water while other nutrients are provided through the use of controlled mists or sprays arranged to maintain a film of nutrient containing freshwater or seawater on the growing plants. Natural waters may be periodically enriched with organic or inorganic nutrients. Significant improvement in harvest efficiency is realized by water charged atmospheric culturing of the marine and freshwater macrophytes, such that harvesting of the hydrophytes on a commercial basis is feasible.