196
M. R. Zoolfakar and I. I. Chacha
interviewed farmers gave strong emphasis was that water hyacinth is making the
farmland more compacted due to its long root that made the farm land difficult to
plough. The collected water hyacinth (heap) had noticeable impact on farm management due to a large place taken and making the farmland fragile. Farmers in the study
areas sow crops when the water starts to shrink with simple adjustment of the plot.
This will cause the farmers to spend more on hiring additional laborers to cultivate
and control the weed. Hence, it is time consuming. Reference [8] stated that, “Based
on the survey, 19 laborers in average are required to clear 0.25 ha of land for recession
agriculture, which were not needed before water hyacinth infestation.”
18.2.4.5 Effects of Water Hyacinth to the Ecosystem
Water hyacinth has effects on our ecosystem as it competes with native plants for
space, nutrients, and sunlight. Moreover, it also affects diversity, distribution, and
abundance of life in aquatic environments.
The study also shows that water hyacinth leads to de-oxygenation of the water and
enhances evapo-transpiration, thus affecting all aquatic organisms. In addition, death
and decay of water hyacinth vegetation in large masses creates anaerobic conditions
and production of lethal gases [8].
18.2.4.6 Effects of Water Hyacinth to the Tourism Industry
The presence of water hyacinth in lakes, swamps, rivers and other sources of water
can pose a threat to tourist attraction to that source of water. “The presence of water
hyacinth in the lake Toba region threatens the beauty of one of the tourist destinations
Indonesia pride. The content of nutrients in the lake Toba which is high because of the
activity of the agricultural waste thrown directly into lake Toba adds to the growth of
water hyacinth. By looking at the state of the lake Toba which threatens the growth
and beauty of Eichhornia crassipes is very high is a problem that must be solved
together” [9].
18.2.5 Several Ways of Controlling/Eliminating Water
Hyacinth
There are several ways of controlling water hyacinth from multiplying themselves.
Some of the ways of controlling this weed can be by harvesting, aquatic herbicides,
and biological control agents. Locally, the best way to manage water hyacinth is to
prevent it from becoming established. Plants purchased at local nurseries should be
disposed of away from waterbodies.
M. R. Zoolfakar and I. I. Chacha
interviewed farmers gave strong emphasis was that water hyacinth is making the
farmland more compacted due to its long root that made the farm land difficult to
plough. The collected water hyacinth (heap) had noticeable impact on farm management due to a large place taken and making the farmland fragile. Farmers in the study
areas sow crops when the water starts to shrink with simple adjustment of the plot.
This will cause the farmers to spend more on hiring additional laborers to cultivate
and control the weed. Hence, it is time consuming. Reference [8] stated that, “Based
on the survey, 19 laborers in average are required to clear 0.25 ha of land for recession
agriculture, which were not needed before water hyacinth infestation.”
18.2.4.5 Effects of Water Hyacinth to the Ecosystem
Water hyacinth has effects on our ecosystem as it competes with native plants for
space, nutrients, and sunlight. Moreover, it also affects diversity, distribution, and
abundance of life in aquatic environments.
The study also shows that water hyacinth leads to de-oxygenation of the water and
enhances evapo-transpiration, thus affecting all aquatic organisms. In addition, death
and decay of water hyacinth vegetation in large masses creates anaerobic conditions
and production of lethal gases [8].
18.2.4.6 Effects of Water Hyacinth to the Tourism Industry
The presence of water hyacinth in lakes, swamps, rivers and other sources of water
can pose a threat to tourist attraction to that source of water. “The presence of water
hyacinth in the lake Toba region threatens the beauty of one of the tourist destinations
Indonesia pride. The content of nutrients in the lake Toba which is high because of the
activity of the agricultural waste thrown directly into lake Toba adds to the growth of
water hyacinth. By looking at the state of the lake Toba which threatens the growth
and beauty of Eichhornia crassipes is very high is a problem that must be solved
together” [9].
18.2.5 Several Ways of Controlling/Eliminating Water
Hyacinth
There are several ways of controlling water hyacinth from multiplying themselves.
Some of the ways of controlling this weed can be by harvesting, aquatic herbicides,
and biological control agents. Locally, the best way to manage water hyacinth is to
prevent it from becoming established. Plants purchased at local nurseries should be
disposed of away from waterbodies.