Science based approach for translating water hyacinth menace into wealth for agricultural sustainability: Empirical evidence from rural India

Datta, A and Singh, H O and Raja, S K and Singh, R and Jat, M L and Padhee, A K (2025) Science based approach for translating water hyacinth menace into wealth for agricultural sustainability: Empirical evidence from rural India. Results in Engineering, 27. pp. 1-11. ISSN 2590-1230

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Abstract

Despite numerous reports on valorization of water hyacinth biomass, its wide-scale adoption has not been realized. In Puri district there are about 2100 water hyacinth infested rural ponds and harvested water hyacinth biomass remain unutilized on the banks of these ponds. The work presented is an attempt to evaluate techno-economic viability of aerobic composting of water hyacinth biomass as an alternative livelihood option. A rural enterprise undertaking aerobic composting of water hyacinth biomass was established in the Nimapada block of the Puri district of Odisha, involving rural women SHG members. The nutrient rich harvested biomass was used for aerobic (windrow method) composting along with suitable quantities of paddy straw and cow dung by women self-help group members. A commercially available enriched microbial consortia was used at the rate of 1 kg per ton of mixed biomass to facilitate efficient aerobic composting. Our study found that freshly harvested water hyacinth biomass, paddy straw and fresh cow dung mixed in the ratio of 7:2:1 is optimal for aerobic composting. The C/N ratio and organic carbon content for the optimum biomass mixture was 16.94 and 14.1 mg/kg respectively. The cost of production of this compost was found to be Rs.8 per kg considering all cost components such as raw material cost, local transport cost, labour cost, fuel cost (shredding of fresh biomass and sieving of final compost), weighing and packaging cost etc. A total of 600 tons of compost was prepared involving trained women SHGs in the Puri district.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Water hyacinth, Aerobic compost, Alternative livelihood, Aquatic weed, Rural enterprise
Subjects:	Others > Odisha Others > Weed Science Others > Water Resources
Depositing User:	Mr Nagaraju T
Date Deposited:	12 Aug 2025 07:42
Last Modified:	12 Aug 2025 07:42
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13269
Official URL:	https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/...
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	Government of Odisha
Acknowledgement:	The authors acknowledge the funding received from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Govt. of Odisha under the State Plan: Innovative Scheme.
Links:	Google Scholar

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