Title: Biochemical characterization of consortium compost of toxic weeds Parthenium hysterophorus and Eichhornia crassipe

Abstract: Parthenium hysterophorus and Eichhornia crassipes are two uncontrolled weeds with high concentration of N, P, K, Zn and Fe that makes them suitable for composting. Three types of compost viz. Parthenium and Eichhornia each alone as well as combined were prepared. Biochemical and enzymatic analysis of the compost in addition to seed germination was performed. Phenols, organic carbon, C/N and C/P ratios were found to decrease significantly in spite N, P, K, polyphenol oxidase were found increase significantly in combined compost. Furthermore, seed germination test of Vigna radiata and Triticum seeds, revealed a significant increase in root, shoot length and germination index in 60 days old combined compost. It can be concluded that combined composting of Parthenium with Eichhornia not only reduces the allelopathic effect but also increases its nutrient quality and thus could be promising for organic farming and bioremediation. [Tejinder Pal Khaket, Mangal Singh, Suman Dhanda, Talwinder Singh & Jasbir Singh (2012). Biochemical characterization of consortium compost of toxic weeds Parthenium hysterophorus and Eichhornia crassipe. Bioresource Technology, online 9 August 2012. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.07.107] Comment

Keywords: Parthenium hysterophorus; Eichhornia crassipes; Compost, Phenols; Allelopathy

Original source



Article: WeedsNews3655 (permalink)
Categories: :WeedsNews:beneficial weeds, :WeedsNews:research alert, :WeedsNews:organic farming, :WeedsNews:compost, :WeedsNews:allelopathy
Date: 17 August 2012; 11:23:08 AM AEST

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid