Trabajo sobre fvh en chihuahua

HYDROPONIC GREEN FORAGE
Hector M. Leon Gallegos Consultant Sandia National Laboratories

SUMMARY In 27 rural localities throughout the state of Chihuahua, Mèxico, we have used a typical 144m2 greenhouse unit containing 1790 trays stacked on shelves that hold grain. The trays are tilted and have holes in one side. The contents are fed as food and grain. The trays are under controlledenvironmental conditions in a typical 10-day cycle. The grain develops roots and green shoots to form a dense mat at an average of 1200 kilograms per day with only 800 to 1000 liters of water consumption. This amount of fodder can be used to supplement feed for 100 head of cattle per day or 500 goats and/or sheep. The water use difference is approximately 50:1 over the hay that the forage replaces. The useof these 27 greenhouses in the state of Chihuahua then conserves over 10,000 acre feet of water per year by eliminating the need for open field alfalfa or corn for silage. There are many others built in neighboring states. The objective of this talk is to present the technical and operational details of growing forage hydroponically in a greenhouse for water conservation. Recently, an analysis ofusing the forage to fatten cattle in Mexico was conducted. The results of this analysis are below: Greenhouse cost: $15K concrete platform: $5K Total: $20K Forage production - 179 trays per day 1 kg corn/tray (15 cents), .1 kg wheat/tray (0.9 cents) = $28.4/day water: 2300 l at .04 cents/l = $10/day miscellaneous: $3/day labor: 1.5 people = $15/day Total daily cost of forage production: $57 =$3.4K Cattle come in at 145kg, leave at 205 kg: 1kg/day growth 109 cows for 60 days purchased for $27K 1342 kg forage (7.6kg/tray) – feed 109 cows 12.3 kg/day. Assuming 15% dry matter, 1.845kg DM = 1.3%BW (145kg cow) or 0.9%BW (205kg) supplement forage with 0.4kg corn meal, 1.5kg stubble and .1kg mineral ($0.21/day/cow) = $1.4K vet and supplies: $350/60days = $0.05/day/cow = $0.3K Assume 2 die, sell107 for $37K Profit ($K): 37-27-3.4-1.4-0.3 = $4K U.S. every 60 days.

HYDROPONIC GREEN FORAGE

By: Héctor M. León Gallegos

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Identifying Technologies to Improve Regional Water Stewardship: North-Middle Rio Grande Corridor 21-22 April 2004

Climate in Chihuahua.

Identifying Technologies to Improve Regional Water Stewardship: North-Middle Rio Grande Corridor 21-22 April 2004

85GREEN HOUSE LOCATIONS

IN CHIHUAHUA

Locations of the forage greenhouses in Chihuahua.

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Identifying Technologies to Improve Regional Water Stewardship: North-Middle Rio Grande Corridor 21-22 April 2004

The greenhouse, 8 m wide and 18 m long, is formed with arches of pipe of 2” of diameter, installed 3 m apart, and strengthened with crosspieces that support loads of 25 kg/m2. Thegreenhouse cover is of polyethylene 150 microns in thickness; the sides of the greenhouse are wound to allow better ventilation. The covered area is protected with mesh anti-trips. The structure supports wind speeds of 150 km/hr.

144 m2

System of production of Hydroponic Green Forage: Using a hothouse of 144m2 equipped with a hydroponic watering system without inert material or soil for theprocess of germination of grains of cereals and legumes (corn and wheat), during one period of 8 to 12 days. For each kilogram of germinated grain, one obtains 9 or more kilograms of forage of high nutritious value.

Identifying Technologies to Improve Regional Water Stewardship: North-Middle Rio Grande Corridor 21-22 April 2004

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Seed selection: The seed of cereals should be used orlegumes without overgrowths and free of plagues and illnesses, to avoid transmission. They should not come from lots exposed to insecticides or fungicide. The desirable humidity is 12% and the seed should have had a rest so that it has fulfilled the requirements of physiologic maturity. The most common crops are corn and wheat. Washing: The seed is soaked in water, with the purpose of eliminating...