overcoming the Challenge of Parthenium Hysterophorus through Composting

Hailu Araya, Mitiku Haile, Arefayne Asmelash, Sue Edwards, and Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher

 

Research Paper I Published November,2015

 

Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology  Vol. 1 (6), pp.72-77

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

Parthenium hysterophorus weed is dominant in many parts of Ethiopia’s expansion became beyond the control of the smallholder farmers and the government. It is also a challenge in the life and agricultural practice of the farmers. There have been Parthenium eradication campaigns through uprooting and burning, but it is still spreading. Recently farmers are using Parthenium for compost making. The hypothesis of this study of compost making is one main potential in controlling Parthenium weed. For this purpose four combinations of biomass were used for preparing compost from the Parthenium weed alone and with other materials. Compost samples were collected from each compost pit, sieved and then analyzed. A germination test was done in order to find out if any of the Parthenium seeds were viable. The results of the experiment and laboratory analysis have revealed the situation in the macro-nutrient content of the compost, its yield status on seed germination. However, this research indicated that further investigation is required to diversify its uses.

Key Words: Parthenium, Compost, Agriculture, Yield, Weed and Biomass.
 

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