The Environmental Impacts and High-Effective Solutions of Invasion of Water Hyacinth

Abstract

Water hyacinth is a fast growing and floating aquatic plant native to South America. Water hyacinth is extremely invasive and its high reproduction rate causes water pollution, waterway closure, and death of aquatic organisms. Based on past studies linked to water hyacinth invasion, this paper first analyzes the features of water hyacinth and the effects of excessive growth. Then, they synthesize and assess the effective and efficient solutions to the ecological hazard of water hyacinth invasion from the domains of technology, government, human, and enterprises. In terms of technology, they recommend the authorities adopt water hyacinth removal machines that may also be utilized for animal feed production. The adoption of anaerobic methods to convert water hyacinth leaves into biogas for power generation is also appropriate, as is replacing existing traditional herbicide types with novel herbicide structures. The government should strengthen legal restrictions, prohibit commercial water hyacinth trafficking, and minimize industrial wastewater discharge. Finally, the research revealed that these methods may effectively decrease the environmental destruction caused by the water hyacinth invasion. Therefore, people should enhance the treatment of water hyacinth invasion hazards in order to control the ecology of the watershed and minimize wastewater discharge.