What are the harms and uses of water hyacinth? The latest analysis is here

Water hyacinth, also known as water hyacinth, water hyacinth, water hyacinth, etc., is a floating herbaceous plant of the Pontederiaceae family, genus Eichhornia, native to Brazil. It is now widely distributed in China's Yangtze River and Yellow River basins and the provinces of South China. It has strong adaptability and was once introduced by many countries, widely distributed around the world, and has also been listed as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species. Now let's take a look at the harms and uses of water hyacinth!

Harms of water hyacinth

1. Water hyacinth blocks navigation channels, affects shipping and drainage, and becomes the number one enemy of agriculture, water conservancy, and environmental protection.

2. Water hyacinth restricts the flow of water bodies. Without sunlight exposure, the water becomes foul-smelling, the dissolved oxygen content in the water decreases, the growth of plankton is inhibited, and the ecological environment of rivers and streams is destroyed.

3. Water hyacinth provides breeding grounds for pathogens such as schistosomes and encephalitis and influenza, breeds mosquitoes and flies, and provides opportunities for mosquito larvae to breathe and reproduce.

4. Water hyacinth can damage drinking water resources. Because it causes blockage, water bodies cannot flow freely, and various pollution sources such as heavy metal elements and other trace elements harmful to human health cannot be effectively removed, so people directly or indirectly take in polluted water sources.

5. The coverage of water hyacinth on the water surface also increases water evaporation, by 8 to 10 times higher than that of an open water surface, causing loss of water resources.

6. Water hyacinth affects the freshwater quality at water intake points. A large amount of water hyacinth covering the water surface will lower the pH value of the water, increase the CO2 concentration, increase the odor value concentration and colority of the water, and also increase the acidity in the water, greatly reducing the use value of water resources until it is undrinkable.

7. The outbreak of water hyacinth and its decomposition stage will also consume a large amount of dissolved oxygen in the water body at the same time. The space for underwater animals such as fish to move and reproduce will be reduced, and even cause mass fish deaths.

Uses of water hyacinth

1. Agricultural use: Water hyacinth has a strong enrichment effect on various inorganic elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, among which its enrichment effect on the macronutrient potassium is especially prominent. Among the existing ways of resource utilization of water hyacinth, the relatively simple and common ones are using it to compost organic fertilizer and produce biogas. Its dry powder or the ash after burning can also be directly used as fertilizer or soil conditioner.

2. Edible use: The flowers and tender leaves of water hyacinth can be eaten directly. They have a light, refreshing taste and the effect of lubricating the intestines and promoting bowel movements. Indigenous residents in places such as Malaysia often use the tender leaves and flowers of water hyacinth as vegetables.

3. Feed use: Water hyacinth is soft and juicy, fresh and tasty, and rich in nutrients. Its dry matter is mainly crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, etc., and it can be used as an excellent feed for chickens, ducks, geese, fish, and pigs. Chopping, crushing, or pulping it and mixing it with bran to make mixed feed or silage can both improve feed utilization and kill parasites.

4. Medicinal use: The whole plant of water hyacinth tastes bland and is cool in nature. It has the effects of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, and dispelling wind-dampness. It is used for heatstroke with thirst, edema, difficult urination, and external application for heat sores. The whole plant treats heatstroke with thirst, nephritis edema, difficult urination, and sores and boils, according to the "Dian Sheng Zhi". The whole plant treats urinary tract stones, according to the "Gui Yao Bian". The whole plant treats common cold and fever, painful red urination, rubella, and red swollen sores and boils, according to the "Xiang Lan Kao".

5. Ornamental use: Water hyacinth is a floating herbaceous plant with well-developed fibrous roots and a very short stem. The flowers are light blue and shaped like a multi-angled trumpet, with the upper petals larger. There is an obvious bright yellow spot in the center of the petals, shaped like a phoenix eye and also like the flower spot at the end of a peacock feather, very eye-catching and beautiful. It is often used as a landscaping material in garden waterscapes. Planted in a corner of a small pond and framed with bamboo, it has a quiet, wild charm.

6. Environmental protection: Water hyacinth is a good plant for monitoring environmental pollution. It can monitor whether arsenic exists in water and can also purify harmful substances such as mercury, cadmium, and lead in water. During growth, it can absorb large amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and certain heavy metal elements from water bodies. Water hyacinth is even more ideal for purifying water bodies with relatively large amounts of organic matter in industrial wastewater or domestic sewage.

Control of water hyacinth

1. Prevention and control of water pollution: Water eutrophication is the foundation for the continuous reproduction and growth of water hyacinth, so the spread of water hyacinth must be prevented and controlled at the source. The substantial improvement in people's living standards and the continuous expansion of population have greatly increased the discharge of domestic sewage and its organic matter content, providing an important nutrient source for the growth of water hyacinth. Therefore, the discharge of domestic sewage must be controlled, as well as the orderly discharge of industrial and agricultural wastewater. When discharge is truly necessary, it must be treated with pollution-free water treatment before being discharged.

2. Mechanical stirring and destruction method: In waters where water hyacinth is more harmful, relevant machinery can be used to stir and crush it, expand the light-receiving area of the water body, increase water flow, and ensure smooth aquaculture, fishing, and shipping.

3. Manual removal method: Use manpower and material resources to directly salvage water hyacinth and transport it to land for removal. This was also the most commonly used method at the beginning, and it has a better effect on small water surfaces. If the water area is too large, the manpower and material cost is too high, so it is not recommended.

4. Chemical control method: On rice field ridges or vacant vegetable fields, use 50 milliliters of 20% fluroxypyr emulsifiable concentrate per mu, which can be diluted with water for spraying. If it is along rivers, ponds, or ditches, use 300 to 400 milliliters of 41% Roundup aqueous solution, 30 grams of imazapyr, 60 grams of paraquat, or 300 grams of 36% glyphosate·chlorsulfuron soluble powder per mu, dilute with 20 kilograms of water, and spray as a fine mist so that the liquid adheres to the stems and leaves of water hyacinth.

5. Biological control method: In late spring or early summer, when the minimum temperature steadily rises back above 13°C, release 1500 to 2000 adult water hyacinth weevils per mu, which can achieve a certain control effect.

6. Turning waste into treasure method: Water hyacinth can be used to make pig or fish feed. The usual method is to crush and pulp water hyacinth, then add 2% table salt and mix well. It can then be used to feed pigs or fish, and can also be used to fertilize water quality.