RESULTS

This research was conducted to test whether water hyacinth mat could be a potential alternative to existing technology that prevents soil erosion. As such, the researchers considered the breaking strength of the material. As shown in Figure 2, Sample C corresponding to the water hyacinth stalk mat treated with sodium metabisulfite had the highest load capacity among the samples exposed and unexposed to the field at 2.831 KPa and 2.122 KPa respectively. In all the samples, breaking strength was higher by 50. 5% (Sample A), 70.8% (Sample B) and 70.9% (Sample C) after exposure to the field for twenty one days.

Breaking Strength (N/m2)

3

Breaking Strength in kPa

2.5

1.5

Legend: A = untreated B = treated with NaCl C = treated with Na2S2O5

0.5

0 After installation Before installation

A 2.223 1.718

B 2.527 1.819

C 2.831 2.122

Figure 13. Results of Breaking Strength Testing

BIODEGRADABILITY TESTING Untreated Water Hyacinth Mat Before Installation After Installation 40 grams 25 grams Water Hyacinth Mat treated with NaCl 50 grams 40 grams Water Hyacinth Mat treated with Na2S2O5 60 grams 55 grams

Table 3. Biodegradability Testing

Three weeks after, the mats showed a decrease in weight. For the untreated water hyacinth mat (Sample A) there was a weight difference of 15 grams, mat treated with sodium chloride (Sample B ) had a difference of 10 kilograms and the mat treated with sodium metabisulfite (Sample C) had a difference of 5 kilograms.

RATE OF SOIL EROSION(g/day)

160 140 120 100 80 60 100 40 20 0 Area with water hyacinth mat Area without water hyacinth mat Area with coco coir mat 135 40

Figure 14. Soil erosion rate

As presented in Figure 14 above, average soil erosion rate in ten days was higher in the area without mats at 100 grams per day, the area installed with water hyacinth mats had 135 grams per day, while coco coir mat had 40 grams per day. Two rainy nights (September 24 and 25)

were observed during the observation period. The area with the existing coco coir proved to have a lesser soil erosion rate than the area with water hyacinth stalk mat, with a difference of 4.5 grams per day.

DISCUSSION Sample C (treated with Sodium metabisulfite) had the highest breaking strength, and was able to withstand the greatest mass compared to the other samples. This can be due to the fact that sodium metabisulfite inhibits the growth of wild yeast, and kills bacteria thereby preventing the fibers from rotting and breaking easily, while preserving the stalks by drawing water out of them. The biodegradability of the mat was also low, meaning it would last longer on the field and would be able to sustain a reduction on soil erosion for a longer period of time. On the other hand, the lowest breaking strength in Sample A is probably caused by airborne bacteria and lack of preserving agents, making its biodegradability high, and thus susceptible to greater wear and tear. Compared to the area installed with mats, both of coco coir and water hyacinth, the area without the mats had a higher soil erosion rate. However, the area with the existing coco coir proved to have a lesser soil erosion rate than the area with water hyacinth stalk mat. This is probably due to the smaller mesh of the coco coir mat, ranging from 0.5 to 1 inch, compared to water hyacinth mat with a mesh size of 2 inches. Because of the smaller distance between each eye of the mat, more fibers are used. More fibers used means a greater breaking strength; and this is the very reason why coco coir mat is considered a standard nowadays.