Valorization of an Aquatic Waste, Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for the Development of Sustainable Agro Textile Products

Textile technology

Agricultural productivity is increasingly challenged by soil erosion, weed infestation, and the environmental legacy of conventional polyethylene (PE) plastic mulches. Recent research has shifted toward the valorization of natural fibers and textile waste to develop biodegradable agro-textiles. This review synthesizes current research on organic and sustainable mulching materials, with emphasis on water hyacinth fiber mats (WHFM) and recycled textile waste nonwovens as eco-friendly alternatives to plastic films. Water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic weed, offers significant potential for valorization through fibre extraction and needle-punched mat formation. Key findings demonstrate that natural fiber mulches provide superior thermal insulation, enhanced rainwater infiltration, and exceptional erosion control (78.74% soil loss reduction efficiency on 30° slopes), while maintaining comparable or superior weed suppression. However, their rapid biodegradation and moisture retention limitations present challenges requiring optimization through co-processing with synthetic or modified cellulose materials. This paper integrates multidisciplinary insights on material classification, fabrication techniques, mechanical properties, weathering behavior, and field performance to guide future development of sustainable agro-textiles.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.