Vermicomposted Water Hyacinth Enhances Growth and Yield of Marigold by Improving Nutrient Availability in Soils of North Bank Plain of Assam

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Water hyacinth predicament is well known world over. Our primary objective is to find a mean through which it may be an utilizable commodity for soil health, particularly in North East Region of India. Encouraging results for sustainable utilization of this weed through adoption of vermicomposting technology has been demonstrated by us in this investigation. The performance of vermicomposted water hyacinth was compared with other sources of organic and inorganic fertilizers on different parameters of soil quality, growth, and yield attributes of African marigold (Tagetes erecta). The findings showed vermicomposted water hyacinth (VWH) at 5 t ha–1 successfully competed with the traditionally used organic and inorganic fertilizers in improving the flower yield of marigold. Further, a mixture of VWH and traditional manure, which is cowdung, at 1:1 ratio has also exhibited promising results at a dose of 2.5 t ha–1. It is also evidenced from the investigation that the soil quality as well as nutrient uptake efficiency of the crop has improved substantially due to application of vermicomposted water hyacinth at 5 ton ha–1. Hence, present investigation has suggested an effective method through which a destructive weed, water hyacinth, could be a resource for organic agriculture in Assam as well as in adjacent States of North East India.

Keywords: Water hyacinth, vermicomposting, African marigold (Tagetes erecta)