Water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic plant species, has aggressively occupied many of Kerala's water bodies. It affects fishing, tourism, water transportation and native species. Water hyacinth reproduces both sexually and asexually through vegetative propagation, allowing it to spread rapidly. While it can be controlled through manual, mechanical, chemical or biological means, complete eradication is difficult due to its ability to regenerate from small plant fragments. Commercial uses of water hyacinth include phytoremediation, production of bioenergy, and manufacturing of various household items, but uncontrolled propagation should still be prevented to protect Kerala's water bodies and resources.

1. INVASION OF KERALA’S
WATER BODIES BY WATER
HYACINTH

2. INTRODUCTION
 Aquatic weeds-global issue
 Major characteristics of weeds
-unwanted occurrence
-undesirable features
-ability to adapt to disturbed
environment

3. Water hyacinth(Eichhornia
crassipes)
 One of the most aggressive weeds
 Occupies major proportion of water
bodies in Kerala
 Affects:
1. fishing
2. tourism
3. water transportation
4. native species

4. Flowers are
pollinated by long
tongued bees and
they can reproduce
both sexually and
clonally. The
invasiveness of the
hyacinth is related to
its ability to clone
itself and large
patches are likely to
all be part of the
same genetic form
Purple violet flower makes it a
popular ornamental plant

5. DESCRIPTION
 Free floating perennial plant
 Broad thick ovate glossy leaves
 Can grow up to 1 metre in height
 Spongy bulbous stalk
 Feathery free hanging roots
 Reproduction: vegetative propagations
and stolons
 Also capable of cloning itself
 Flower throughout the year, releases
more than 3000 seeds per year, could
live up to 20 years.

7. HABITAT AND ECOLOGY
 Tropical desert-subtropical or warm
temperate desert –rain forest zone
Min growth temp 120C
Max growth temp 250-300 C
Optimum growth temp 330-350C
pH tolerance 5-7

8. CONTROL
Manual and mechanical
 Drainage of water body
 Pulling through net
 Weed harvesters, crusher boats and
destruction boats
 Demerits
 Expensive
 Shredded bunches are carried by
waves to unaffected areas

9. Chemical control
 2,4-D glycophosate and diquat
 2,4-D:- death through inhibition of growth
and cell apoptosis
 Glycophosate:-steady wilting and
discolouration, plant decay
 Merits
 Cost effective, less laborious
 Demerits
 Penetrate into ground waters, affects
aquatic organism and animals

10. Biological control
 2 species of Weevil beetles and two
moth species
 Weevils decreases plant size, affects
vegetative reproductions, flower and
seed production
 Facilitate transfer of deleterious
organisms into plant tissue

11. USES
Phytoremediation and waste water
treatment
 Ability to absorb large quantities of
heavy metals(arsenic, cadmium)
 Thrive well in polluted waters(organic
contaminants and plant nutrients)
 Efficiently removes 60-80% of nitrogen
and 69% of potassium

12. Bio-energy
 Excellent biomass source
 1 hectare of standing crop produces
more than 70,000m3 biogas
 dry water hyacinth –fuel in Bengal
 High water content- difficulty in
harvesting and processing+ ethanol
production

13. Semi industrial use and household
articles
 In Philippines, Indonesia, and India
 Used for making ropes, mats shoes,
sandals, and bags

14. Animal feedstock and agricultural
use
 Sundried water hyacinth
 Rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals
 Feedstock for non ruminant animals
and plants
 Green manure or compost for
increasing soil quality
 Accumulation of toxic substance-use
restricted to flowering plants only.

15. CONCLUSION
 Depleted Kerala's water bodies of
their oxygen content
 Commercial use should not encourage
its propagation rather help control
growth