Aquatic plants are evidently present in nature to regain a relative equilibrium. However, excessive growth of these plants due to high phosphate and nitrate content in water bodies causes clogging of drainage channels and provides a suitable environment for the proliferation of disease vectors. The high oxygen consumption by the abundant population of these plants and their subsequent decomposition causes the death of aquatic fauna.
▶ The use of these plants as raw material in the composting process makes possible the formation of large amounts of carbon dioxide, the final product of energy utilization by soil microorganisms.
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This condition enriches the air immediately above the surface soil thus helping the photosynthetic function and its action on the soil is additive to that of the organic acids formed during the same decomposition processes.
Likewise, the microorganisms present are stimulated by the addition of usable carbon contained in the green plant material, to accelerate the production of ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrates that activate even very peaty soils.
Some aquatic plants grow in lakes, rivers and streams, spreading in an exaggerated manner and causing a series of problems. Therefore, these plants can be included in composting processes at very low cost.
Tests have been conducted with organic fertilizers using aquatic plants such as Eichhornia crassipes L. and Limnocharis flava L. and have presented high yields in seedling germination (Ají Dulce (Capsicum chínense Jacq) and pimentón (Capsicum annuum L.)), nutrient content and physicochemical values.
NOTE: Reference material.