Organic Method for Eradication of Water Hyacinth Using Neem Seed Kernel-An Experimental Study

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) invasion had been a most critical issue that almost every countries are facing to protect their water bodies. Especially in India water hyacinth is not a native crop and there are no native invaders like sea cows in its water bodies and the threat caused is increasing tremendously. Water hyacinth ranks eight World’s worst weed and ranks fourth in Mississippi’s worst aggressive weed. Not a single method of eradication will stop the growth but an integrated approach should be adopted for the complete eradication. In our study we have experimented neem seed kernel as organic biocide for eradication of water hyacinth. Neem seed kernel contain azadirachtin as its chemical component which is toxic to water hyacinth. Neem seed kernels were subjected in the form of powder, solution and extract. The percentage mortality was determined along with waste water quality parameters in each case. It was found that application of neem seed extract has got highest efficiency of about 73% mortality and so neem seed extract along with other physical and biological methods of eradication will give significant eradication of water hyacinth.