Water hyacinth as a potential source of nutrients for liquid fertilizer formulation

Date

3-1986

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Dario C. Sabularse

Abstract

Four methods of extracting essential plant nutrients from water hyacinth were studied. The methods used are dry-ashing, acid extraction, acid digestion and pressurized alkaline hydrolysis. The results show that considerable amounts of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc and sodium are extracted from water hyacinth. The nitrogen content was relatively low as ompared to literature values while trace amounts of copper and molybdenum were detected. The water hyacinth liquid extracts were compared to a commercially available liquid fertilizer in terms of certain nutrient contents. The values for Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn were observed to be at comparable levels, while Ca and Na were present in greater amounts. The N and K contents were lower. However, in liquid fertilizer formulation, the N, P, K content could be fortified using commercial inorganic sources. The potential use of water hyacinth as a source of plant nutrients is therefore a workable possibility. The great abundance of these plants plus the role they play in the bodies of water as "nuisance weed", gives us great encouragement on its potential use, both as macro nutrients and trace elements source for liquid fertilizer formulation. The results also give an insight on another use of water hyacinth.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 1986 C4 M35

Document Type

Thesis

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