The molecular and chemical profiling of Ageratum conyzoides as organic fertilizer: A comprehensive nuclear study
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Abstract
Ageratum conyzoides (Babandotan) is an invasive tropical weed that, despite its allelopathic and noxious characteristics, holds potential agricultural value as a feedstock for compost-based organic fertilizer. However, the detailed molecular-level information on the humic acid derived from A. conyzoides compost remains limited, as previous studies have primarily focused on bulk functional group characterization. The molecular composition of humic acid extracted from composted A. conyzoides using ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is elucidated. The resulting compost exhibited a near-neutral pH (6.09 ± 0.08), high total organic carbon content (40.2 ± 1.05%), and a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 24.9 ± 1.2. ¹³C NMR spectra revealed five major carbon regions, for instance aliphatic, carbohydrate, aromatic, carboxyl, and carbonyl with aromatic, carbohydrate, and carbonyl carbon representing the dominant fractions, indicating an advanced degree of humification. The combined presence of recalcitrant aromatic structures and carboxyl/carbonyl functional groups suggested that A. conyzoides-derived humic acid possesses both long-term carbon stabilization potential and nutrient-chelating capacity relevant to organic fertilizer application. These findings are supported the feasibility of converting this invasive weed into a value-added organic soil amendment, contributing to sustainable weed management in tropical agricultural systems.
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