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Water hyacinth has become a serious problem in various places because it grows quickly and thus chokes up waterways, blocks water pumps and reduces fishing points. So, there is a need of technology or combination of technology for the utilization of water hyacinth. It can also be used for sewage treatment, which is a low cost and environmental friendly. It does not involve any elaborate mechanism nor does it require the setting up of complex unit. Then, this water hyacinth biomass can be harvested & further used for much utilization like as food or fodder or in mushroom cultivation depending on the characteristics of water hyacinth obtained. The spent substrate after fungi harvesting is rich in protein and is excellent feed for earthworms. Thus, compost obtained through vermicomposting is used in agricultural fields to close the nutrient circulation loop. One part of this technology is interpreted in this book. In this book, water hyacinth along with industrial effluents has been interpreted which has been directly used for mushroom and compost production. This book will greatly help in doing research on the above mentioned technology.

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Priyanka Anand, M.Tech: Studied Environmental Science & Technology at Thapar University, Patiala (Punjab, India). Asstt. Manager Tech. Enviro. Services at Grass Roots Research & Creation India (P) Ltd., Noida (U.P., India).

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