Water Hyacinth Research Paper

The value of the invasive Water hyacinth classifies as both detrimental and beneficial. The authors of The Jepson Manual, Vascular Plants of California describe the invasive plant as “Perhaps the world’s most troublesome aquatic weed.” The despised notions come from the fact that the aquatic weed increases its capacity to spread in water; peculiarly when the plant distances from its natural enemies in South America. The Water hyacinth growth appears as an island in freshwater bodies, or as a mat floating freely on the top of riverbanks. The Water hyacinth grows quicker in polluted ponds and lakes along with other nutrient-rich waters, and in the time span of 4-7 days the mats these plants form can nearly double. Mats of Water hyacinth allow for the growth of secondary plants, ultimately causing the mats to increase in weight and strength—making it difficult to compromise and negotiate with. Problems arise from the infestation and directly affect the biological diversity and the human population. The plant carries negative socioeconomic factors; the abundance of the plant in large bodies of water causes clogs within irrigation canals—ultimately decreasing the amount of water usually delivered to a community. Furthermore, clogging’s make it difficult for many boats, steamers, kayaks and other forms of transportation to pass through. In riparian communities, mats block sunlight from entering the water that in turn induces change with the life within the water. As the fish population and vegetation within the body of water hinders, many people face unemployment and decrease in their main source of income and food. Additionally, the clogging of turbines impedes the irrigation supply, reduces the water supply, and decreases the productivity of hydropower generation. The environment where the Water hyacinth plants locate attract many mosquitoes, which make it easier to spread diseases in the populations surrounding the invasive plant. In contrast to the detrimental effects of the Water hyacinth, the plant serves as an environmental and economical beneficiary because of the plants ability to produce energy; the plant holds a strong promise for the modernized and industrialized age of the 21st century. The invasive plant contains low lignin that allows the cellulose and hemicellulose to easily convert to fermentable sugar, thus aiding the biofuel industry due to the plants utilizable biomass; and the cellulose allows for the production of paper. The fibrous component of the Water-hyacinth plant proves effective in the production of biogas. The biomass and the byproducts of the plant can be used as organic manure or for producing bioethanol by further decomposition of fermentable saccharides. Further, the invasive plant has found useful in animal feed and agriculture. In countries such as Malaysia, China and Indonesia the Water hyacinth plant solves many nutritional problems by being fed to pigs, ducks, and pond fish. The mixture of cow dung and the Water hyacinth plant produce biogas that transforms into the usage of an effective fertilizer. Additionally, the invasive plant proves effective in environmental protection techniques such as phytoremediation. Water hyacinth can purify water containing heavy metal contamination (such as cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and nickel) along with removing pollutants and wastes in water. Moreover, the invasive plant is rich in proteins that contain crucial amino acids such as cystine, phenylaline, tyrosine, threonine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine; and in Formosa the Water …show more content…
Though aquatic biology and the economy do not immediately seem linked, it is crucial to note that bondage between the two does exists and affect society in various ways. The direct detrimental impacts of the Water hyacinth exemplify the dangers that arise for boaters and steamers. This in turn should urge society to take action before the infestation of the species turns into a crisis. Control of the plant proves necessary in order to prevent mass ecological/socioeconomic damage within society. Moreover, the information that proved beneficiary could potentially be used to increase lake productivity or promote increased precautions that will prevent the drastic effects of the plant from dominating various areas of the lake. Research shows that further economic incentives should be taken to for the private removal of the Water hyacinth, there should be an increase in spread prevention along with increased efforts to create good out of the negative effects that come from the