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Large Scale Composting as a Means of Managing Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

John E. Montoya ,
Tina M. Waliczek  and
Michael L. Abbott
John E. Montoya
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Texas State University-San Marcos, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666
Tina M. Waliczek*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Texas State University-San Marcos, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666
Michael L. Abbott
Affiliation:
Texas Rivers System Institute, San Marcos, TX 78666
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: tc10@txstate.edu
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Abstract

The intent of this study was to determine if composting is an effective means of managing water hyacinth while producing a quality horticultural compost product. Preliminary tests for the study included germination and seed mortality tests. Germination tests found that water hyacinth seeds germinated on filter paper media soaked in distilled water while placed in petri dishes held at a constant temperature of 27 C for 14 d. Seed mortality test results found that seeds of water hyacinth were rendered inviable at temperatures equal to or above 57 C. The study successfully developed a large-scale composting system that used water hyacinth as a primary feedstock. Eleven compost piles were derived from 10,000 kg of water hyacinth, 9,000 kg of food waste, 11,300 kg of poultry litter, and 17,200 kg of wood chips. Results indicated that the composting process reached and sustained sufficiently high enough temperatures to inactivate and fully decompose seeds and other propagules of water hyacinth. Therefore, water hyacinth can be composted without the potential danger of it spreading. Compost quality tests found that the compost produced was within acceptable to ideal ranges of accepted industry quality standards, though there was a learning curve by student workers in the preparation of the piles using the large equipment.

Keywords

Water hyacinthEichhornia crassipes (Mart.) SolmsAquatic plant managementcompost qualityinvasive
Type
Research
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 2013 , pp. 243 - 249
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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Footnotes

Current address: Graduate Student, Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822

References

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