NSF grant helps Penn State researchers see how duckweed can limit nutrient pollution

In Pennsylvania, with a $1.7 million grant from the National Science Foundation, Penn State researchers will investigate how duckweed could be grown on Pennsylvania farms to limit nutrient pollution into the Chesapeake Bay. Duckweed, a tiny plant resembling a lily pad, grows rapidly in water with elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, often the result of fertilizer and manure runoff. While many consider the plant a pest, farmers may find duckweed doubly beneficial, according to the lead investigator of the project. In a preliminary assessment, the team calculated an estimated economic return for farmers if they repurposed some of their land from growing soybeans — often used for cattle feed — into a pond to grow duckweed. By mixing manure with water in the pond instead of applying it to an open field, farmers could not only reduce waste but also produce more protein.