Abstract:
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an invasive aquatic plant which has high
biomass and a high nutrient profile, providing it a viable source for organic fertilizer
formulation. This study aimed to develop a Water Hyacinth-Derived Liquid Bio
fertllizer (WHLB) and examine its viability as an alternative nutrient medium for the
hydroponic cultivation of Lactuca sativa. A systematic preparation procedure was
established, including biomass cleaning, drying, grinding, and fermentation with
Effective Microorganisms (EM). Initially, four water-to-biomass ratios (1:10, 1:20,
1:25, l:30) were chosen, and three (T2, T3, T4) were assessed based on adequate
harvest volumes.The physicochemical characterization of dried water hyacinth powder
demonstrated moisture content (14.76 r 0.24yo), high ash content (22.92 + 0.600A),
acidic pH (5.93 + 0.22), and elevated electrical conductivity (10.06 L 0.14 dS/m),
indicating substantial mineral availability. The biomass also exhibited high volatile
matter (78.56 + 1.45Yo), water absorption index (13.19 + L64), and swelling capacity
(22.67 + 0.58%), supporting its suitability for microbial fermentation. Elemental
analysis of the dried powder showed appreciable nutrient concentrations, with
potassium (29.43 + 0.58 mg/g) exceeding nitrogen (10.087 + 0.560 mglg) and
phosphorus (2.934 + 0.005 me/g). The trends in pH, EC, and TDS during fermentation
confirmed active nutrient solubilization across the treatments. Microbial examination
demonstrated a significant number of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphorus-solubilizing
microorganisms, and Pseudomonas spp., indicating efficient organic matter
decomposition and microbial activity. The chemical assessment of the final WHLB
formulations indicated that T2 exhibited the highest nutrient availability, recording as
0.251 + 0.004 mg N/g, 0.175 + 0.006 mg P;'g, artd23.37 + 0.80 mgWg, followed by
T3 and T4. Thus demonstrating the impact of dilution ratio on nutrient extraction
efficacy.The results demonstrate that water hyacinth can be effectively transformed into
a nutrient-rich, microbially active liquid bio fertilizer, exhibiting significant potential
for deployment in soil less agriculture. The T2 formulation exhibits promising
properties for possible hydroponic nutrient replacement. This research enhances
sustainable agriculture methods by converting an environmental liability into a
benefi cial, eco-friendl y fertilizer supply.
