DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSTING TECHNIQUES FOR AQUATIC WEEDS

Abstract

Water hyacinth (Eichhornnia crassipes) and African payal (Salvinia molesta) are the major aquatic weeds found in the Kuttanad tract of Kerala. Composting is the best technique for safe and quick disposal of aquatic weeds. Since aquatic weeds produce large quantity of biomass, sizable amount of organic matter can be generated by composting them. Trials were conducted at RARS Kumarakom from_2001- 2004 for quick composting using different additives, like urea, cowdung, trichoderma and pleurotus.The major aquatic weeds were Salvinia and Eichhornia. The results indicated that in heap method the best additive for composting salvinia was urea followed by cowdung and for Eichhornia, it was cowdung followed by Trichoderma. In tank method also cowdung was found to be the best additive for composting both aquatic weeds. The nutrient content of the composted material was better in tank method than in heap method.