Studies of Biodegradation of Ipomea Carnea Weed from Kavinadu Big Tank in Pudukkottai District (India)

Abstract

Introduction: The adverse effect of aquatic vegetation on the environment is an increasingly serious world-wide problem. Challenging the international community. The development of control method will require innovative thinking and creative research. The rapid growth rate, spread, and adaptability from aquatic to xerophytic habitats indicate this plant may potentially become another ecological disaster in India like water hyacinth and Salvinia spp.

Methods: Sterile bag samplers were used to collect the water from various sampling site and were processed after collection. Water sample was aseptically passed through 0.22 µM pore size filters and placed on nutrient Agar plates and incubated. After incubation the isolated bacterial colonies were picked with sterile toothpicks and stabbed into nutrient agar contained in screw capped vials for further process. Sediment samples were collected in polypropylene tube with a hole drilled in the bottom and serially diluted samples were spread on the nutrient agar plates. Then the plates were incubated for 24 hrs. After incubation the isolated bacterial colonies were picked with sterile toothpicks and stabbed into nutrient agar contained in screw capped vials for further process.

Results: The predominant microbial load was isolated from the samples and they were identified as Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. By biochemical characterization and selective media. Bacteria, Actinomycetes and fungal growth in aquatic biocompost were gradually increased. The organic content of biocompost also increased. The pH of Ipomoea carnea compost was 7.61.  Highest number of thermophilic bacteria (43x106) was observed at 50ºC Biocompost of 30th day, 26x106 was observed at 60 ºC. Thermophilic fungal growth was not observed in other compost

Conclusion: Composting is one of the most promising ways to recycle the wastes generated from power    plants, as the process reduces the volume and stabilizes the waste. The high organic matter content in the compost product also preserves soil fertility.  A large variety of thermophilic micro-organisms have been reported in composting and other self-heating organic materials. Such information is of particular interest because these bacteria may be the major active organisms in the thermophilic stages of composting.

Keywords: Ipomoea carnea, Vermicompost, biodegradation, thermophilic