Fight against water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, 1833. A review

Abstract

Water hyacinth originating from South America was introduced into several regions of the world as an ornamental plant. Its biological characteristics, including capacities of sexual and asexual reproduction ways very effective, its high growth rate and productivity, allowed it to colonize freshwater communities and be very competitive to other plant species. E crassipes shows the most significant growth rate in comparison with other terrestrial or aquatical species. Because of its ecological and socio-economic impacts, it belongs to the "100 most harmful invasive species in the world”. Documentary research has been done without taking into account the results obtained over the last decades concerning various techniques used to eradicate its proliferation. This study shows that methods of physical, chemical and biological control have been adopted and given the limitations of use of these different methods, studies are still being carried out to remedy its expansion.