Effect of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Mulch on Soil Microbial Properties in Lowland Rainfed Rice-Based Agricultural System in Northeast India

Abstract

Most water bodies in the humid tropical areas of Arunachal Pradesh are infested with gregarious Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. Over a period of time, with death and decay, the water bodies are eutrophicated. This natural phenomenon gave forth the idea of using E. crassipes biomass as a compost in agricultural fields for soil nutrients management, using microbial characteristics as potential indicators. The study indicating that water hyacinth as a potential organic substrate can stimulate the growth of diversity of microbial population in agricultural soils. In general, soil respiration and microbial population were significantly (p < 0.05) greater in mulched plots compared to control. Among treatments, vermicompost mulched plots recorded for higher bacterial (74.31 CFU × 104) and fungal counts (31.09 CFU × 103) at both surface and sub-surface soil layers. The present study provides baseline information for ecofriendly approach to management of E. crassipes, especially for the countries where it poses a huge threat to the wetland ecosystems. Nonetheless, nutrient deficient soils in the present study site due mainly to conventional farming practices and nutrient runoff could however be checked by mulching soils with naturally and abundantly growing E. crassipes locally. © 2013 NAAS (National Academy of Agricultural Sciences).