“Transforman lirio acuático en abono orgánico para rescatar la laguna de Tixtla”

Video and Information: Jesús Hernández. Tixtla de Guerrero. - With the aim of turning an environmental problem into an opportunity for agricultural development, Dr. Jorge Alberto Ramírez Leyva and local farmers launched a project to transform the water hyacinth in the Tixtla lagoon into organic fertilizer using vermiculture. The project is led by Dr. Jorge Alberto Ramírez Leyva, who explained that the initiative arose after observing how the water hyacinth invades the lagoon and, as the water level drops, accumulates in agricultural plots, where it is commonly burned by farmers, causing pollution and environmental damage. The proposal involves collecting the water hyacinth and mixing it with cattle, horse, and sheep manure, as well as decomposing leaf litter, to produce compost. This material will then serve as food for the red wiggler worm, whose digestion will produce worm castings, or vermicompost, a high-quality organic fertilizer. Ramírez Leyva highlighted that the production process takes approximately 120 days, from the collection of materials to obtaining the fertilizer, which can be used in agricultural crops, orchards, and fruit trees, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and promoting soil recovery. The researcher thanked the municipal authorities who have provided machinery, materials, and infrastructure to develop the project. He also acknowledged the volunteer work of the team members, who actively participate in collecting the water hyacinth and in the composting process. Those in charge of the project invited the public to learn about the process and join this environmental initiative, which seeks not only to reduce the presence of water hyacinth in the lagoon but also to promote more sustainable agricultural practices. Finally, the project leaders pointed out that this strategy represents a viable alternative for utilizing a plant considered invasive, transforming it into a useful resource for agriculture and contributing to the conservation of the lagoon, considered one of the municipality's main natural assets.