[USCC] water hyacinth

Thu Jun 7 12:17:30 CDT 2007

Dan:

The University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants estimates
an acre of water hyacinths can weigh 200 tons, so your volume estimates may
be on the high side.  You can use a 5-gal plastic bucket to estimate bulk
density (email me for the procedure if you don't have it).

Clearly, you'll need a structural bulking agent like wood chips (or
ground-up woody yard debris) to ensure pile porosities are high enough for
oxygen transfer. I would imagine as these plants are mostly water that you
will get substantial volume reduction. As for nutrient value (either as
livestock feed or compost), a lab analysis will be needed.

Good luck!

Craig Coker
Coker Composting & Consulting
3331 Glade Creek Blvd.  Ste. 7
Roanoke, VA  24012
(540) 904-2698  Fax: (540) 904-6732
Cell: (540) 874-5168
craigcoker at cox.net
www.cokercompost.com

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-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of Dan De Grassi
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 2:42 PM
To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
Subject: [USCC] water hyacinth

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Dear USCC Community-
We have a 22 acre lake that has become infested with water hyacinth and
our Parks Department is exploring options for management of the material
after it has been removed and ground up. I have several questions, to
wit:
1. What amount of material might be there? We've heard estimates of
16,000 yds and 100,000 yds. Is there a standard method to calculate? Is
there a typical volume to weight factor?
2. What issues are involved in composting, other than the high moisture
content?
3. Is it the kind of material that compost operations might want as a
feedstock?
4. How easy is it to dry this stuff? How much volume reduction happens?
5. Does it have any feed value for livestock?
6. Are there issues with straight land application?
Thanks for any info provided,
Dan deGrassi
Santa Cruz County DPW
831-454-3102
Compost maillist - compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
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