Water
spinach (Ipomoea
aquatica) is a vegetable eaten in some
countries especially in Southeast Asia like Cambodia, China,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam. At the same
time, it is eaten by some animals like rabbits, ducks, pigs and
chickens. Just like carrots being eaten by humans and rabbits.
Water
spinach is planted in water or on moist soil and matures in 30 to 35
days from planting. The stem, which is hollow and can float in water,
expands up to one-fourth (¼) inch in diameter and grows from 1 foot (12 inches) to 10
feet. Water spinach bears flowers which produce small seeds. Below are images of water spinach.
Water
spinach
with
flower
|
Harvested
and bundled
water
spinach with roots
|
Nutrition Values of Water Spinach
Water
spinach is nutritious which give some important nutrients to your
rabbits. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a
100-gram water spinach will give the following nutrition values:
Nutrient
|
Unit
|
Value
per
100
grams
|
1
Cup, chopped
56
grams
|
| PROXIMATES | |||
Water
|
g
|
92.47
|
51.78
|
Energy
|
kcal
|
19
|
11
|
Protein
|
g
|
2.60
|
1.46
|
Total lipid (fat)
|
g
|
0.20
|
0.11
|
Carbohydrate,
by difference
|
g
|
3.14
|
1.76
|
Fiber,
total dietary
|
g
|
2.1
|
1.2
|
| MINERALS | |||
Calcium, Ca
|
mg
|
77
|
43
|
Iron, Fe
|
mg
|
1.67
|
0.94
|
Magnesium, Mg
|
mg
|
71
|
40
|
Phosphorus, P
|
mg
|
39
|
22
|
Potassium, K
|
mg
|
312
|
175
|
Sodium, Na
|
mg
|
113
|
63
|
Zinc, Zn
|
mg
|
0.18
|
0.10
|
| VITAMINS | |||
Vitamin C, total
ascorbic acid
|
mg
|
55.0
|
30.8
|
Thiamine
|
mg
|
0.030
|
0.017
|
Riboflavin
|
mg
|
0.100
|
0.056
|
Niacin
|
mg
|
0.900
|
0.504
|
Vitamin B-6
|
mg
|
0.096
|
0.054
|
Folate, DFE
|
µg
|
57
|
32
|
Vitamin B-12
|
µg
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
Vitamin A, RAE
|
µg
|
315
|
176
|
Vitamin A, IU
|
IU
|
6300
|
3528
|
Vitamin D (D2 + D3)
|
µg
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
Vitamin D
|
IU
|
0
|
0
|
| LIPIDS | |||
Cholesterol
|
mg
|
0
|
0
|
Source:
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research
Service,
National
Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 27
Rabbits
can eat water spinach and have the necessary plant-based protein,
dietary fiber, carbohydrates, energy, water, minerals and vitamins.
(Caution: Feed one of your rabbits with one cup of chopped water
spinach (56 grams) for 7 days and observe if diarrhea does not
occur. STOP feeding if there is a problem.)
A
study was conducted and found that water spinach given to some
pregnant rats with induced diabetes lowered the blood sugar by
preventing the digestive absorption of glucose. If rabbits will be
feed with water spinach, they may become healthy and avoid veterinary
care expenses.
How to Cultivate Organic Water Spinach
A.
Materials Needed
- One plastic pail, 6 inches diameter and 12 inches high
- Water. If it is tap water taken from your faucet, store water on the pail for at least 24 hours to eliminate the chlorine.
- 6 to 10 pieces of fresh water spinach (stems and leaves – about 10 inches long). You can buy them from any Asian store.
B.
Procedures for Cultivation
- Fill up a pail with water up to 6 inches high or one-half of your pail.
- Remove all the leaves from the stems of water spinach
- Put the water spinach stems on the pail with water.
- Add water on the pail if it is less than one-half full.
- You will see small leaves that will be sprouting in about 7 days from “planting”.
- If the leaves are more than 2 inches long (about 30 days old), cut the leaves using a scissor and feed the fresh leaves to your rabbits.
- You can use 7 to 14 pails to cultivate batches of water spinach so that you can supply your rabbits every day or every 3 days.
- Or, you can buy a 55-gallon plastic drum (color: blue); cut it lengthwise using a metal cutter or saw; put water on the 2 half-size drums, and “plant” the water spinach.
For
commercial rabbit meat production, several 55-gallon drums (cut into
two, lengthwise) can be used to “plant” water spinach to avoid
contamination from chemical pesticide, chemical fertilizers, and
soil bacteria and fungi. If water spinach is planted on soil, they
may pick up some bad microorganisms and parasites that are detrimental to the
health of rabbits and humans.
Organic Fertilizers for Water Spinach
To
make your water spinach as organic vegetable, which is good for
humans and rabbits, you can do the following:
- Buy liquid organic fertilizer from any agricultural store. If it is not available, buy a non-liquid organic fertilizer and make it in powder form. Put one-half (½) teaspoon of liquid or powdered organic fertilizer on the pail.
- Use one-half gallon of dry rabbit manure and put it in a small sack or used pillow and tie the “mouth” with a plastic or nylon cord. Submerge the entire sack with rabbit manure in a plastic or earthen container with 5 gallons of water. If you use tap water, store the water on the container for at least 48 hours (2 days) to make the chlorine evaporate. Stir the water at least every 4 hours. After 48 hours, scoop 2 tablespoons of rabbit manure tea and mix it with 1 liter of water (non-chlorinated). Put the mixture on the pail with water spinach. The manure tea mix can be applied to the water spinach every 2 months or as needed.
If
you remove the old water spinach and clean the pails or drums, use
the water in watering your plants and trees. The used water contained
some nutrients needed by other plants and trees.
Other Names for Water Spinach
Water
spinach, in different names, is eaten in different countries.
Water
spinach is called
|
In
|
| Water spinach, river spinach, swamp cabbage, water morning glory, Chinese spinach, Chinese watercress, Chinese convolvulus and water convolvulus |
English
|
| Kangkong | Philippines |
| Phak bung | Thai |
| Ong choy | Cantonese |
| Rau | Chinese |
| Muống | Vietnamese |
| Trokuon | Khmer |
| Kolmou xak | Assamese |
| Shak | Bengali |
| Kangkung | Indonesian |
| Hayoyo | Ghana |
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Source:
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