Prevalence and Intensity of Water Hyacinth Infestation in the Water Bodies of Rift Valley, Ethiopia

Samuel Tegene, Nestanet Ayele

Abstract


This assessment was accomplished with the objective of mapping and identifying the infestation of water hyacinth in order to lay ground for any type of management practices or intervention planned. Accordingly, survey on the prevalence and intensity of water hyacinth infestation was made in some water bodies having connection with the Awash River including Abasamuel Dam, Koka Dam, Lake Ellen, Wonji Sugar Estate and Awash River near Koka Town. As a result, summarized data on prevalence of water hyacinth in the assessed water bodies indicated that the value that ranged from 17 -100% was observed. Moreover, the highest water hyacinth prevalence was recorded in Ellen (100%), Melka Hida (100%), Dodo wedera (98%) and Tere (96%), while the lowest (<20%) was recorded at Wonji-Shoa. Furthermore, the highest water hyacinth count [308 plants per quadrat (m2)] was recorded at Koka Dam, whereas the lowest [12.00 plants per quadrat (m2)] was found in Wonji-Shoa. Generally, the distribution map also confirmed that there was high degree of variability among water bodies in their infestation with water hyacinth that ranged from free to high. The result clearly revealed that the infestation of weed was increasing from time to time causing enormous negative effect by making the water inaccessible for utilization and by affecting the livelihood of the community directly and indirectly. Hence, integrated effort of community, governmental and non-governmental organization in reducing the disastrous effect of the weed on the society was mandatory.


Keywords


Water hyacinth, assessment, prevalence, infestation

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References


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