Sustainable solutions for water hyacinth invasion: Characteristics, impacts, control, and utilization

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an invasive aquatic plant that has become a global issue due to its significant ecological and socio-economic impacts. This paper discusses the characteristics and impacts of water hyacinth invasion, emphasizing the urgency of effective management strategies. Various methods for harvesting and controlling water hyacinth, including physical, biological, and chemical approaches, are elucidated. Additionally, the paper highlights the potential utilization of water hyacinth for pollutant absorption and sequestration of heavy metals, organic contaminants, and excess nutrients. Furthermore, the opportunities to convert water hyacinth biomass into bioenergy sources such as biogas and bioethanol have been identified. The paper also presents the technical feasibility of using water hyacinth to produce biochar, high-quality bio-fertilizer, animal feed, and several other valuable products.