ABSTRACT
Proliferation of weeds in waterways interferes with irrigation, navigation, energy generation, and insect and disease control. The use of aquatic weeds contributes markedly to their control while generating valuable products: meat, eggs, fish, edible vegetation, fertilizer, energy, paper pulp, and waste processing. Chemical control methods, though costly, have been relatively effective in killing water weeds in tropical areas. Aquatic plants characteristically produce masses of vegetation: some water weeds are, in fact, among the most productive plants on earth. After aquatic weeds are harvested, mechanical de-watering with presses is quite energy efficient. Water weeds can also be composted with soil, ash, and a small amount of animal manure. Fibrous waterweeds, such as reeds and cattails, are potential substitutes for other roughages eaten by ruminant animals. The potential of water weeds for fiber production is likely to become even more attractive as petroleum-based synthetics increase in cost.
