Degradation of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) to vermicompost through application of the vermicomposting technology

Mercy M. Manyuchi, Charles Mbohwa, Edison Muzenda, Trevor N. Mutusva, Miranda Mpeta

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study focuses on the microbial degradation of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) to vermicompost as a bioconversion strategy. Water hyacinth was vermicomposted using Eisenia Fetida earthworms loaded at a rate of 150 earthworms/L over a period of 35 days. The changes in water hyacinth total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TP), and total phosphorous (TP) and total potassium (TP) were measured using standard methods. Linear models were generated using MATLab 13.0 to describe the changes in physicochemical properties with change in vermicomposting time using the regression coefficients (R2) values. The TOC and COD decreased significantly by 60% and 53% as the water hyacinth was converted to vermicompost. The TKN, TP and TK increased by 93%, 127% and 98% respectively. Linear models developed indicated R2 values of 0.9 for all the parameters.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management
PublisherIEOM Society
Pages79-88
Number of pages10
EditionMAR
ISBN (Print)9781532359484
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Event9th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, IEOM 2019 - Bangkok, Thailand
Duration: 5 Mar 20197 Mar 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management
NumberMAR
Volume2019
ISSN (Electronic)2169-8767

Conference

Conference9th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, IEOM 2019
Country/TerritoryThailand
CityBangkok
Period5/03/197/03/19

Keywords

  • Bioconversion
  • Degradation
  • Earthworms
  • Vermicompost
  • Water hyacinth

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Strategy and Management
  • Management Science and Operations Research
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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