Canning, Adam (2025) A Review on Harnessing the Invasive Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for Use as an Agricultural Soil Amendment. Land, 14 (5). 1116.

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Abstract

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a globally invasive aquatic weed with high biomass productivity and nutrient content, offering potential as a low-cost organic soil amendment. This review synthesizes findings from 35 studies identified through a structured Web of Science search, examining its use as mulch, compost, biochar, and foliar extract. Reported agronomic benefits include improvements in soil organic carbon, nutrient availability (particularly nitrogen and potassium), microbial activity, and crop yields. However, most studies are short-term and conducted under greenhouse or pot conditions, limiting field-scale generalizability. Additionally, reporting of compost composition and contaminant levels is inconsistent, raising concerns about food safety. While logistical and economic feasibility remain underexplored, emerging evidence suggests that with proper processing, water hyacinth amendments could reduce fertilizer dependence and contribute to circular bioeconomy goals. Future research should prioritize field trials, standardized production protocols, and life cycle assessments to evaluate long-term performance, risks, and climate benefits.

Item ID:	85626
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2073-445X
Keywords:	water hyacinth; organic soil amendment; invasive species management; circular bioeconomy; bioresource reuse; nutrient cycling; sustainable agriculture
Copyright Information:	© 2025 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Date Deposited:	27 May 2025 23:53
FoR Codes:	30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3002 Agriculture, land and farm management > 300202 Agricultural land management @ 30% 30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3002 Agriculture, land and farm management > 300210 Sustainable agricultural development @ 40% 30 AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCES > 3004 Crop and pasture production > 300402 Agro-ecosystem function and prediction @ 30%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1803 Fresh, ground and surface water systems and management > 180302 Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in fresh, ground and surface water @ 20% 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1806 Terrestrial systems and management > 180605 Soils @ 50% 26 PLANT PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 2601 Environmentally sustainable plant production > 260199 Environmentally sustainable plant production not elsewhere classified @ 30%
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