A combination of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and coffee grounds as a growth substrate for use in arid areas

There is a strict requirement to reduce the environmental impact of the water hyacinth and coffee grounds and an urgency to find solutions to boost farming in arid regions. In this experiment, growth substrates containing different ratios of water hyacinth and coffee grounds were used to support potted flower growth to evaluate their effectiveness as soil replacements. Two substrates were prepared by the combination of water hyacinth and coffee grounds ratios of 50:50 and 70:30, and then their physicochemical properties were measured. The growth, biomass production, and micro and macroscopic nutrient uptake of cockscomb flower (Celosia argentea var. cristata) were also determined. The findings suggest that the addition of organic raw materials improved phytonutrients and increased substrate pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of growing medium. The experimental growth substrates did not negatively affect plant growth. Overall, the results have shown that the application of water hyacinth and coffee grounds in growth substrates reduces their negative impact on the environment and increases the amount of arable land in arid, water-scarce areas with poor soil quality.