Composting of Aerial Parts of Crofton Weed (Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng), the Top Invasive Plant in Southwest China

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe aerial parts of invasive crofton weed (Eupatorium adenophorum) in Southwest China were used as the main material and fermentated by microbial inoculant Bacillus subtilis to produce bio-organic fertilizer. Results showed that the allelochemicals of crofton weed had no significant negative effect on the activity of B. subtilis. No seeds of crofton weed germinated during the composting period and thereafter. Compared with uncomposted crofton weed, the nitrogen and phosphorus contents in composted crofton weed increased. In addition, the main allelochemical of composted crofton weed, i.e., 9-β-hydroxy-ageraphorone, was significantly reduced. The potassium content remained stable. Furthermore, tomatoes cultivated with bio-organic fertilizer grew better in terms of plant height than those cultivated with uncomposted crofton weed and ordinary red soil. Therefore, crofton weed can be used to produce bio-organic fertilizers, thereby controlling crofton weed infestation.