Utilization of water hyacinth as livestock feed by ensiling with additives

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) is one of the most productive plants on earth, but it is also considered as the world's worst aquatic weed. An experiment was carried out with the objective of utilizing it by converting to silage for its usage as animal feed. The quality and palatability of water hyacinth silage prepared with additives such as molasses, cassava powder, and rice bran were assessed. The completely randomized design (CRD) with 12 treatment combinations and 3 replications, was used. The treatments included: combination of wilted and fresh water hyacinth with or without rice straw or guinea grass and using any of the additives such as molasses, cassava flour and rice bran. Wilted water hyacinth plus cassava powder (10%), wilted water hyacinth plus rice straw (10%) plus cassava powder (10%), and wilted water hyacinth plus guinea grass (10%) plus cassava powder (10%) had good fodder quality due to low pH. The odour of these combinations was rated as either ‘good’ or ‘very good’. The quality of rice bran added silages was low in terms of pH, odour and palatability; although its nutritional quality was high. Rice bran enhanced crude protein, crude fat and ash content of silages. Molasses ensured the quality of silage by lowering pH and enhancing intake. Cassava powder addition in general reduced the pH of the silage and enhanced the palatability of silage.