Sure, the water hyacinth is a terrible weed on Lake Victoria. But, as I blogged last year, it does have some redeeming features, for example it can be used to make furniture. Now comes news that it can also be fed to animals, and that it shelters catfish fingerlings. ((Coincidentally, there was another heartwarming aquaculture piece from Africa in the news today.)) One man’s invasive weed is another woman’s income-earning opportunity. How long before it is officially classed as agrobiodiversity?
LATER: Ok, apologies. A comment alerted me to the fact that I had misread the article, and that hippo grass is not water hyacinth, but rather (probably) Echinochloa stagnina. The perils of common names. But the fact remains that people are making use of a plant that to many is a pest. The dividing line between useful agrobiodiversity and noxious weed can be hard to define. Thank you, Inoculated Mind.
According to the article, the grass that’s good for the fish is Hippo Grass, not Hyacinth.
Can you make any assessment of the costs of water hyacinth in the African rift lakes relative to its benefits? The literature that came up with a quick search suggested that the costs have been huge, to native species, to the ecosystem, and to the people who live there.
I am doing a survey about agronomical characteristics of water hyacinth, about growth rate and use it as fodder for ruminants.
I am really donnot know how to do it, I mean method to survey it.
Help me! help me
I don’t really know, but there is some information online here. And perhaps you could try to get hold of this literature review.