Possibility to degrade water hyacinth by black solider fly larvae

Abstract

The study aims at assessing possibility to degrade water hyacinth by Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). experiments were carried out with fresh hyacinth that were pre-treated to have different sizes; quantities and separated parts of water hyacinth (as stems, leaves and roots) using a homemade lab-scale model. It is found that highest degradation and biomass conversion could be achieved if feeding 2 kg water hyacinth of less than 2 cm size with 2 g black soldier larvae (BSF). Amount of the larvae increased from 2 g at the beginning to 12 g at the end of the process, while water hyacinth decreased from 2 kg to 0.4 kg. Leaves of water hyacinth showed highest degradation rate. If feeding BSF with a mixture of leaves, stems and roots of water hyacinth, bio-conversion rate of BSF and biomass degradation rate of water hyacinth will be lower