EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF EICHHORNIA CRASSIPES BIOMASS MANURE ON EFFICACY OF OTHER ORGANIC MANURES ON THE GROWTH OF TRITICUM AESTIVUMSnehal A. Masurkar and Girish R. PathadeAbstract The aquatic weed E. crassipes was taken for investigation as a potential source for production of organic fertilizer. It was initially supplemented with organic manures viz. cow dung and poultry manure to study the efficacy of prepared manure. The comparative studies were performed on different types of soils. Different physico-chemical and physical parameters of plant growth were determined. Results with saline soil showed an interesting effect on growth of wheat plants. The results were highly promising and proved to show better effects on the growth of wheat plants. The addition of E.crassipes organic manure increases the organic content of red soil to the extent of 20.7%, black soil to the extent of 20.5% and saline soil to the extent of 15.5%. The aquatic weed water hyacinth may be a low cost alternative source of organic fertilizer in plenty full supply. The possible ways of combating its proliferation and the various methods of eradicating this weed not proved much. Then its utilization may become an eary way of its management. The results also signify the use of E. crassipes as the organic manure. The study of water hyacinth as biofertilizer revealed that the incorporation of water hyacinth into soil crops system increased the performance of the wheat plant. Since water hyacinth is locally available, plentiful and cost free, its effective use as organic soil amendment would be an interesting method for soil restoration. Its use for manure preparation will help get rid of this notorious weed which causes aquatic environmental pollution problems. |