Study on Efficacy of Alum and Vinegar for Controlling the Aquatic Weeds in Controlled Condition

Abstract

The present study was conducted in hatchery premises of Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai to study the efficacy of alum and vinegar for controlling the aquatic weeds in controlled condition. A total of 36 numbers of tanks were set up in twelve treatment groups (T1 to T12) each having three replicates. Treatment tanks were fertilized at 75 ppm dose in non soil base and soil base tanks. Rooted plants i.e. Vallisnaria sp and Ceratophyllum sp were planted in soil base tanks, whereas, non-rooted plants such as chara and hydrilla were planted in tanks without soil. Application of alum dose @ 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500 ppm was made in respective tanks for non-rooted plants; whereas vinegar was applied @ 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000 ppm for rooted plants. (The result indicated reduction of Chlorophyll a concentration to 2.55 ± 0.01c, 0.71 ±0.16b, 0.47 ± 0.04ab, 0.29 ±0.02a, 0.32 ±0.01a, 0.24 ±0.03a for the dose of control, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, and 1500 ppm in chara, respectively On the other hand, lowest value of chlorophyll b was obtained at the dose of 1000 ppm of alum.) In hydrilla sp, the lowest concentration of chlorophyll a and b was found at 1500 ppm. In case of Vallisnaria sp, chlorophyll a and b got reduced to lowest level in 1500 ppm and 2000 ppm. In Ceratophyllum sp, lowest value of chlorophyll a and b was obtained at the dose of 2000 ppm. Significant reduction in chlorophyll a and b contents was due to subdued photosynthesis and in turn impeding growth of the weeds. The findings of present study conclude that for the control of aquatic weeds like Chara sp, Hydrilla sp, Vallisneria sp. and Ceratophyllum sp. alum and vinegar are effective chemicals. where 1500 ppm of alum and 2000 ppm vinegar dose were found to be most suitable for controlling the aquatic weeds.