In spite of its aquatic habitat, the growth of the plant was better in the wet than in the dry season. The plant has a high
water content of about 93.4% in the root system and 94-5% in the shoots. Little & Hen son (1967) reported the water content of Pistia to be as follows: whole plants, 92.3%, root system, 88.2%, stem, 92.4% and leaf blades, 94.0%. Another common aquatic plant, water hyacinth Eicchornia crassipes, was shown to have 96.05 % water and is being used as fodder for animals (Penfound & Earle, 1948; Sridhar, 1970; Wolverton & McDonald, 1979). A high water content is normally considered unsuitable for harvesting purposes. However, this depends on the purpose for which the crop is harvested. It may be better used in the fresh form by periodical harvesting, or in tropical climates it may be dried by using solar energy. It has been the practice, in this lake, for workers to harvest the plant by mechanical means for compost.