Effect of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Mulch on Soil Microbial Properties in Lowland Rainfed Rice-Based Agricultural System in Northeast India

Abstract

Most water bodies in the humid tropical areas of Arunachal Pradesh are infested with gregarious Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. Over a period of time, with death and decay, the water bodies are eutrophicated. This natural phenomenon gave forth the idea of using E. crassipes biomass as a compost in agricultural fields for soil nutrients management, using microbial characteristics as potential indicators. The study indicating that water hyacinth as a potential organic substrate can stimulate the growth of diversity of microbial population in agricultural soils. In general, soil respiration and microbial population were significantly (p \ 0.05) greater in mulched plots compared to control. Among treatments, vermicompost mulched plots recorded for higher bacterial (74.31 CFU 9 10 4 ) and fungal counts (31.09 CFU 9 10 3 ) at both surface and sub-surface soil layers. The present study provides baseline information for ecofriendly approach to management of E. crassipes, especially for the countries where it poses a huge threat to the wetland ecosystems. Nonetheless, nutrient deficient soils in the present study site due mainly to conventional farming practices and nutrient runoff could however be checked by mulching soils with naturally and abundantly growing E. crassipes locally.

Potential of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as Compost and its Effect on Soil and Plant Properties: A Review

“…W hen compost prepared from this nutrient rich organic matter these nutrients get released into the soil upon decomposition process and become available for plant uptake. Comparatively higher total nitrogen and available phosphorous were recorded when soil is mulched with water hyacinth compost that control plots (Balasubramanian et al 2013). Availability of nutrients vary with soil depth, times of application, decomposition and mineralization rate etc.…”

“…Easily decomposable water hyacinth compost contributes buildup of organic matter in the soil and thereby affects soil physical as well as chemical parameters like the other organic composts. Balasubramanian et al (2013) reported that the soil organic matter ranged from 0.64-3.57% in soil mulched with water hyacinth throughout cropping period irrespective of soil depth and days. Organic matter in the form of water hyacinthbased compost influences soil physical properties inclusive of aggregate formation, porosity, bulk density, water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity.…”

Use of Hyacinth Compost in Salt-Affected Soils

“…15 t ha -1 could not produce the significant effect and most of the yield determining factors of both crops remain stagnant. Improved crop growth and yield of rice or wheat crop with gypsum and hyacinth compost @ 10 and 15 t ha -1 may be attributed to improved fertility status of soil, as hyacinth compost is rich source of essential macro and micro-nutrients (Balasubramanian et al, 2013;Viveka and Grace, 2009) which release during mineralization process. The results are consistent with earlier findings that water hyacinth compost increased the yield of corn, onion, sesame, rice, gourd and brinjal (Majid et al, 1980;Majid, 1983Majid, , 1992.…”

“…Hyacinth compost remarkably improved the growth parameters in wheat crop (Widjajanto et al, 2001) and physicochemical properties and microbial activities in soil (Lata and Veenapani, 2011). Furthermore, being easily decomposable water hyacinth qualifies as a potential organic source for nutrient management which can also stimulate microbial activities (Balasubramanian et al, 2013). Brassica Juncea showed a positive response in growth and yield to water hyacinth manure application (Lata and Veenapani, 2011).…”

“…Water hyacinth compost is increasingly being used as organic manure to supply nutrients for plant growth (Malik, 2007). According to Balasubramanian et al (2013) hyacinth compost has a great potential to accelerate microbial activities that maintained the soil nutrient pool. Water hyacinth composted material is a rich source of N (3.2% in its dry mass) with a C: N ratio of 8 to 15 (Khan and Sarwar, 2002;Gunnarsson and Petersen, 2006).…”