Composting: A Low-cost Biotechnological Approach to Ameliorating Macrophyte Nuisance in Fresh Waters

Abstract

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), an aquatic macrophyte, is a resource that has attracted a lot of interest in recent times. The physicochemical constituents of Eichhornia crassipes have been reported in some literature to constitute high carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium including other important micro and macronutrient like potassium and zinc. These findings by scientists informed its utilization in the assemblage of animal feed, bio-energy generation, pharmaceutical industries, and biofilters. The bioconversions of this problematic plant to various products (compost, biochar, and digestate) are green inexpensive options to be considered for use in the restoration of hydrocarbon polluted sites is reviewed in the paper. In addition to crude oil pollution clean-ups, compost improves soil fertility and also increases its organic matter content. This article also shall review composting, Water Hyacinth compost applications in remediation, remediation monitoring parameters, limitations of remediation by composting technology, and the way forward.

Impact of composting factors on the biodegradation of lignin in Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth): A response surface methodological (RSM) investigation

“…The hydrophyte weed Eichhornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth) grows in freshwater bodies as a nuisance ( Quilliam et al., 2015 ; Udume et al., 2021 ). It is considered an invasive species because of its characteristic prolific growth.…”

“…It resurfaces despite huge sums of money allocated each year for its excavation. Biocomposting of Water Hyacinth offers a low-cost biotechnological solution that can tackle its menace by transforming it into biofertilizers ( Udume et al., 2021 ).…”

Effect of Variations in the Composition of Cow's Rumen and Straw on the Quality of Organic Fertilizer

“…Pembuatan pupuk organik melibatkan degradasi komponen organik, yang mempengaruhi bagaimana rasio C/N berubah (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). Hal ini disebabkan oleh upaya yang dilakukan selama proses pengomposan untuk merangsang aktivitas mikroba pengurai (bakteri, jamur, dan actinomycetes), yang akan mempengaruhi penurunan kadar C dan peningkatan kadar N. Pengukuran rasio C/N digunakan untuk mengukur status kematangan kompos dan memperkirakan seberapa cepat komponen organik dapat termineralisasi.…”

“…Rasio C/N optimal untuk pengomposan adalah antara 20 dan 30, tergantung pada keadaan awal. Udume [15] menyatakan bahwa rasio C/N optimal adalah antara 25 dan 35. Ketika rasio C/N awalnya rendah, proses pengomposan dapat dilakukan secara aerobik.…”

“…Suhu yang terus menerus mengalami peningkatan dikarenakan waktu penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada musim kemarau, sehingga mempengaruhi peningkatan suhu ruangan laboratorium pengomposan yang juga akan berpengaruh terhadap kenaikan suhu di dalam reaktor pengomposan selama proses pengompsan berlangsung. R3 menghasilkan suhu tertinggi sebesar 29,8 o C pada hari ke-10 dan mengalami peningkatan pada hari ke-50 sebesar 33,7 o C. Hal ini disebabkan karena selama proses pengomposan mikroorganisme akan menguraikan substart dan menghasilkan panas [15]. Gambar 6.…”