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ahlangle
03-30-2015, 05:04 PM
I've got a pasture that holds about 12"-18" water all year (about 15 acres), levees washed out and old risers and culvert silted up with water hyacinth and mud, so I can't pull the water off without a major dirt work operation ($). The water was once controlled and has a pit blind in the middle, and it used to have cattails head-high and be slammed full of ducks. Now, since the water stays all year, nothin grows at all.
My question is, can I plant anything around the edges or in the water itself for duck food?
It is in NW LA along red river, good duck hunting area I just need to have some food for them.

Thanks.

Smalls
03-30-2015, 07:24 PM
If you could find some wild rice to transplant, that would probably work. Buttonbush is also pretty good, and may be easier to get. The LDAF actually grows it in their nurseries.

Or plant it in some bulrush or cutgrass to create some habitat.

Top Dawg
03-30-2015, 09:37 PM
Be thankful the cat tails are gone.

cgoods17
03-31-2015, 11:52 AM
spend the money and do it right. get your field back to where you can control your water and then you can worry about planting....

12"-18" of water should have some kind of food in it anyway..

if you dont want to spend money, then just let if grow and buffalo the field before hunting season

ahlangle
03-31-2015, 01:07 PM
There is nothing growing in field except for water hyacinth mats in the summer. The nutria have destroyed the levees separating field from deep canal, the water hyacinth and silt clogged up the risers and burried them years back. The whole thing would take lots and lots and lots of money for the dirt work, so for right now I'm interested in the wild rice.

I've read to use wild rice seed only from areas nearby, which is not possible here. Would buying it from the arkansas or Minnesota companies (only ones I've found, about $4/lb) still work?

How much to plant per acre? Fertilizer?

When to plant (or scatter) - spring, fall, months?

Will cattle eat it if they got in there and into the (12"-20") water?