Exploring the Potentials of Water Hyacinths and Agricultural Wastes as a Botanical Medium for Urban Farming

Abstract

Unfortunately, water hyacinths grow in abundance along river stretch causing different places in the Philippines submerged in floodwaters. Vivika, S, and Grace B.L. (2009) note that water hyacinth has appropriate macro and micro nutrients that support the plant growth. With this, the potential of water hyacinth with agricultural wastes to generate alternative botanical medium for rural and urban settlers was investigated. Water hyacinths were gathered and chopped into small pieces. Coconut coir, cacao leaves, dried carbonisedrice hull, rice bran, served as agricultural wastes and were mixed with water hyacinths. Indigenous microorganism (IMO) was sprayed on mixed materials. It was fermented for 20 days. After fermentation, different mixtures were placedin a black plastic container where monggo seeds were planted. Results showed after 3days, seeds in the commercial soil germinated followed by mixture 2 and 3. After 5days, mixture 1 and problem soil germinated. After 10days, monggo plants in mixture 2 had greatest average length followed by commercial soil and problem soil. Mixture 3 had least average length after mixture 2. V. radiate seedlings planted in each medium have leavesall appeared in light green colours. Therefore, use of water hyacinths and agricultural wastes have the potential as a botanical medium because monggo planted on it grew similarly like the soil with fertiliser.