Integral Valorization of the Water Hyacinth from the Canals of Xochimilco: Production of Edible Mushrooms and Forage

Abstract

Purpose This work assesses the feasibility of the valorization of water hyacinth, which grows in the canals of Xochimilco, México, through its use as substrate for the cultivation of edible mushrooms and forage. Methods Water hyacinth was processed using different pretreatments, producing four different substrates in which the mushroom was cultivated. The degradation of the substrate was estimated by its weight reduction, the biomass generation was measured, and the biological efficiency was calculated. The possible presence of cadmium and lead was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the fruiting bodies and in substrates (before and after the cultivation of the mushrooms). The potential of the substrate to be used as forage was determined through a proximate analysis. Results From all the inoculated substrates, the mushroom fructified only in two (humid and sterilized water hyacinth; and humid, pre-composted, and pasteurized water hyacinth with roots). Humid and sterilized water hyacinth was the best treatment, with a biological efficiency of 310.44 % ± 85.27. The weight reduction of this treatment was similar to that of the straw, which was used as a control. For both treatments, there was no presence of Pb and Cd in the fruiting body or in the spent substrate. The results of the proximal analysis showed that the spent substrate has the required characteristics to be used as potential bovine forage.Conclusions This treatment is a feasible alternative for the management of this complex waste, producing a valuable protein source and feed for cattle.

Water Hyacinth Composting as a Waste Management Strategy: A Systematic Review

“…Among the products that aimed to produce in the composting of 83 articles identified, dominates the production of Organic Fertilizer (≈83%), followed by Anthropogenic soil (≈9%), Organomineral (≈5%), Pre-compost (≈2%) and Slurry (≈1%). Only 6 of the 83 researches did not used a source of organic material and/or additional mineral in composting process or after composting for production of their target product (Goyal et al, 2005;Chunkao et al 2012;Araiza et al, 2016;Martinez-Nieto et al, 2011;Packia Leksmi and Viveka, 2011;Sannigrahi and Chakrabortty, 2002).…”

“…The most adopted macronutrients in monitoring are K, N and P, the latter two being, however, surpassed in organic carbon monitoring during/after composting, also significantly adopted in monitoring prior to composting. Is also adopted C/N ratio by a large number of the authors, and its prior monitoring to composting held to be maintained at close values to ideal for process and during/after composting verifying compost maturity (Araiza et al , 2016;Nath and Singh, 2016;Pushpa et al, 2016a;Bisen et al, 2017).…”

A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Existing Approaches for Controlling and Managing the Proliferation of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): Review

“…Moreover, WH could be transformed to a high-quality forage for animal feed. A previous study showed that the cultivation of edible mushrooms on WH biomass degrades almost all the lignincellulose of the substrate through enzymes, and enriches it with high protein content, making the spent substrate an excellent forage (Araiza et al, 2016).…”

Water Hyacinth–Cement Composites as Pollutant Element Fixers

“…Furthermore, the huge amount of WH biomass generates challenging waste management problems [1,2,[4][5][6]. Several studies have investigated different uses of WH as animal feed [7], fertilizer [7][8][9], a component in bioethanol production [10][11][12], an energy producer via combustion [13,14], or briquettes [15][16][17]. Nevertheless, these uses fail to consider the tendency of WH to fix heavy metals and other pollutants into its structure [18,19].…”