Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Water hyacinth is treated with the soil borne lignocellulolytic fungal organisms such as Trichoderma viridae and Trichoderma harzianum separately to get nutrient rich hyacinth compost. The proximate composition of the hyacinth, initial physical properties and chemical composition of hyacinth, bacterial and fungal diversity in compost, post composting physical properties and chemical compositions were determined. The hyacinth fungal compost made by both the fungi was used as manure for Abelmoschus esculentus. The organic composts and chemical fertilizers were applied at the rate of 5 tons/hec and 40 kg/hec respectively. Growth parameters such as germination percentage, shoot length, number of leaves, number of flowers, number of fruits, and fertility coefficient were determined for every 15 d interval upto 90 d. Compost made by T. harzianum showed better growth (15.52+0.06–shoot length within 15 d) when compared to compost by T. viridae (12.38+ 0.09–shoot length within 15 d). Regarding the final nutritional value T. harzianum gives N (kg/acre) is greater (95.00+5.57) than T.viridae (89.67+ 5.04) and all the other composition such as P₂O₅, K₂O₅, Ca, Mg were equal in both composts. Both the fungal composts of hyacinth showed better growth of Abelmoschus esculentus. The results of the field tests showed conclusively that water hyacinth is valuable manure when compared to chemical fertilizer.
Keywords: Hyacinth, water weed, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viridae