Research Article
Adeyemi Folasade Oluwafisayo
Adeyemi Folasade Oluwafisayo
Corresponding Author
Department of Soil Resources and Environmental Management, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. E-mail: princesssadefisayo@yahoo.com
Omotoso Solomon Olusegun
Omotoso Solomon Olusegun
Department of Soil Resources
and Environmental Management, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Abstract
The reportedly low
nitrogen (N) contents of composts, widely used for sustainable soil
improvement, management and maintenance, has engendered its fortification with
other N-rich sources, especially inorganic fertilizers became a necessity. The
adoption of chemical fertilizers is however constrained by scarcity, rising
prices and the potential for environmental pollution, such that the potential
of alternative N-rich organic materials for compost fortification/enrichment
need to be exploited. The composts reportedly increased N concentrations in soils and
simultaneously raised the phosphorus and potassium levels such that their
impacts should be evaluated on crops. Two composts: cow
dung + sawdust (CDS) and poultry dung + sawdust (PDS) were enriched with organic materials: abattoir
wastes- bone (BN), hoof (HM), horn (HN) and blood (BM); tithonia (TM) and neem
(NM) meals to 60 kg
N levels as CDSBN, CDSBM, CDSHM, CDSHN, CDSNM and CDSTM; PDSBN, PDSBM, PDSHM,
PDSHN, PDSNM and PDSTM. The growth and yield responses of leaf amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) to the enriched
composts at 30 t ha-1 and 400 kg ha-1 NPK 15-15-15 were
assessed in a field experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design
with three replicates. Growth data collection and harvesting of amaranth were
done at 6, 7 and 8 weeks after sowing and data generated were subjected to
analysis of variance and the means separated using DMRT at p=0.05. Various
enriched composts are compared strongly with the inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and
can effectively serve as alternatives, to the inorganic fertilizers, putting
the cycles or life span of vegetables and crops in consideration.
Abstract Keywords
Composts, soil improvement, fortification, enrichment, organic
materials, N-rich sources, leaf amaranth.
1. Introduction
Livestock manure supplies all major
nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) necessary for plant growth, as well as
micronutrients [1]. The effects are long
lasting as the application of manure improves the performance of the crops grown
in a given year while the residual effects will continue to influence crops in
the succeeding years [2]. This arises
because the decomposition of the organic material is continuous and not
completed within one year [3]. Thus, in the
many experiments conducted to compare manure with an equivalent amount of NPK
(chemical fertilizer) and most often, the results favoured manure [4-6]. The reasons for the superiority of manure
include: low decomposition rate of organic matter resulting in a slow release
of nutrients; increase in infiltration rate with more rain water and irrigation
water entering the soil; and decrease soil bulk density resulting in a greater
capacity for more air and water within the soil.
Compost is an organic fertilizer made from the regulated and monitored biological breakdown of organic materials that have been sterilized, stabilized, and cured to the point where they are useful to plant growth [7-8]. Its use alleviates the nutritional, physical and biological aspects of soils by increasing soil organic matter quality and quantity, as well as the number, diversity, and activity of soil organisms [9]. Therefore, compost has become a valuable ingredient in organic farming on account of several beneficial aspects: saves money that could have been used for buying fertilizers; improves the soil physical, chemical and biological properties; feeds the soil which feeds the plants that feed the animals and the whole world; increases the nutrition of growing plants which leads to good nutritional quality and increased human health [10].
The word amaranthus comes from the Greek word “amarantos” meaning the one that does not wither or never fading (flower). Amaranthus species are ancient cultivated crops that have long been neglected by Western agriculturists and gardeners. Amaranthus species were ranked major potential crops with the most promising economic values among the 36 underexploited tropical plants indicating that there are untapped prospects and potentials in their utilization [11]. Amaranthus (vegetable and grains) is one of the food plants to improve nutrition and the quality of life in developing countries. Amaranthus hybridus is an important vegetable crop in Nigeria and other parts of the world. In Nigeria, vegetable amaranth is planted all year round and harvested for food [12]. The local synonyms in Nigeria are alayyafu or aleho (Hausa), ẹfọtẹtẹ or tẹtẹ (Yoruba), and inine (Igbo). In the 70s, there was renewed interest in the cultivation of amaranth due to the discovery that the crop is a cheap and rich source of protein, vitamins and minerals [13]. Amaranthus hybridus is useful for livestock feed [14] and human consumption being a source of leaf protein concentrates, essential amino acids (Lysine and Methionine), minerals (especially calcium and iron), vitamins (carotene, riboflavin, niacin) and other essential nutrients needed for feeding young children and other persons with nutritional deficiencies or malnutrition [15-16].
Amaranthus plants thrive well on poultry and other farmyard manure-amended soils. It grows in full length and is most productive on soils with high organic matter and adequate nutrient reserves [5, 17]. This is on account of nitrogen (N) needed for luxuriant growth of crops, especially leaf vegetables, but only a small quantity, between 0.5 to 2.5 % (dry weight basis) exists in finished composts [18]. Thus, there is the need to identify the materials which will give higher N quantity when composted, or used to enrich the composted materials with N. Inorganic fertilizers had been used to fortify/amend organic fertilizers, to raise their N content; but these have recently been reported as scarce and expensive, and therefore unavoidable to most farmers apart from the fears that the use of synthetic products, including inorganic fertilizers is unhealthy for the contact environment. Therefore, the need has become urgent to evaluate the potential of organic materials as N-enriching substances in composts. The positive effects of composts enriched with organic N-rich substances on soil N, P and K have been reported [19-20]. In this study, the organic N-rich materials (common agricultural wastes and weeds) were added to the common compost materials in order to improve the N status. The materials were Mexican sunflower, neem, blood and bone meals, hoof and horn meals.
1.1 The organic wastes used in the study
1.1.1
Poultry
manure
Poultry
manure is a valuable, concentrated and quick releasing organic fertilizer [21]. It contains all the basic nutrients
necessary for crops but in much greater amounts; 3-5% N, 1.5-3.5 % P and
1.5-3.0% K [22], 3% N, 2.5% P and 1.8% K [23]. All nutrient contained in poultry manure
takes the form of available compounds. Most of the nitrogen (N) in it is in the
form of uric acid which turns in storage, first to urea and then to ammonium
carbonate under unfavourable storage conditions [24].
Poultry manure is applied both before sowing and for dressing. Poultry
manure enhances soil fertility by combating soil improvement, promoting soil
structure, supplying and retaining water until decomposition is completed, this
aids the breakdown of organic matter and also makes a living soil moister than
soil with no organic matter. Poultry manure activates soil life: giving food to
soil inhabitants that change them into organic matter, which decays and is in
turn changed into humus releasing mineral nutrients.
1.1.2 Cow dung
Cow
dung is the waste of bovine animal species. Cow dung is the undigested residue
of herbivorous matter which has passed through the animals guts. The resultant
faecal matter is rich in minerals [25]. Cow
manure contains 3% nitrogen, 2%
phosphorus, and 1% potassium—3-2-1 NPK [26].
Colour ranges from greenish to blackish,
often darkening in colour soon after exposure to air. Cow dung (usually combined
with soil bedding and urine) is often used as manure (agricultural fertilizer).
If not recycled into the soil by species such as earthworms and dung beetles,
it dries out and remains on the pasture, creating an area of grazing land which
is unpalatable to livestock [27].
1.1.3 Sawdust
This is composed of fine particles of wood. This is
produced with the use of cutting wood with a saw. It has a variety of practical
uses including serving as mulch, as a fuel or for the manufacture of particle
board. Sawdust is high in carbonaceous compounds (lignin, cellulose and pectin)
and low in useful plant nutrients such that for bacterial decay to occur,
carbohydrates for energy and N to build new bodies as they grow and multiply
are needed [28]. The N deficiency limits
building of bacterial tissues and can deplete
available nitrogen in soils and thereby hinder plant growth. The N consumed by microorganisms becomes available and utilizable to crops
after the sawdust is degraded.
1.1.4 Bone meal
From every cattle slaughtered, about 70-90 kg bones
are obtained, which could thereafter be washed, dehydrated and burned-out so as
to convert to bone meal which has a huge market in livestock feed and
fertiliser industries [29]. Animal bones are
cooked, ground, packed and then sold as a slow release fertiliser that adds a
good amount of P to the soil [30]. It also
contains Ca [30];
of about
12–13% [31] and
NPK ratio of approximately 3:15:0, indicating
that they are low in nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) but high in phosphorus (P)
[32-33]. Bone meal is emphasized as an
effective soil amendment especially on degraded soils where the physical
properties of soil are unaffected by inorganic fertilisers [34].
1.1.5 Blood meal
Slaughtered
cattle give out 25 litres of blood which is rich in N as it contains 12% N [35] and so can be used as an enrichment material
for a finished compost in order to increase its N content [29]. Blood
meal is a high-nitrogen fertiliser created from a dry, inert powder made from
blood. The release of N is rapid and it is suited to fast growing
vegetables. Blood meal is water soluble and it can be used as a liquid
fertiliser [30], which could balance the C:
N ratios of composts.
1.1.6 Hoof and horn meal
The
cooked, ground and dehydrated hooves and horns obtained from cattle slaughter
houses are good N sources (12%) and contain about 2% P which makes the meal a
12-2-0 NPK fertiliser. It is alkaline in nature and so a good choice for
improving acidic soils [36]. The N is locked
inside the horn and hoof meal is released slowly so that it does not burn the
plants [37]. The N release starts at 4-6
weeks after application and can last for 12 months [38].
1.1.7
Tithonia
diversifolia
Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) is a juicy soft shrub belonging to the
Asteraceae family, which had its source in Mexico and Central America but has a
practically pan-tropical distribution [39]. It
is currently found in most parts of America, Asia, and Africa [40]. The leaves
and succulent stems decompose readily when applied to the surface of the soil
or integrated into it to release and make available nearly all the N in about 2
weeks [41]. As a result, it provides a vital
source of biomass and nutrients for short term crops, supplying N, P and K in
quantities comparable to or better than poultry, cattle and swine manure [42]. It has nutrients averaging 3.5% N, 0.37% P and 4.1% K on dry matter basis [43]. The
best fertilizer is made when the plant is dark green and about 1 m tall. Once
the plant has flowered it is no longer high in N as most of it has been used in
producing the flowers and seeds [44].
1.1.8 Neem
The
tree called neem (Azadirachta indica)
is a member of the family Meliaceae. It reportedly originated from India,
Pakistan, and Bangladesh, but it can also be found in tropical regions [45]. Its leaf litter brings the surface pH of
acid soils to neutral [46] and the leaves
are valuable as mulch, amendments to neutralize soil acidity, as fertilisers,
resulting in increased crop growth and output [47].
Neem by-products (the seedcake and leaves) can be used to enhance local
soils and encourage long-term productivity. Neem fruits contain 3.3% N, 4.1% P
and 3.8% K while neem leaves contain 2-3% N, 1% P and 1.4% K.
[48-49] Neem leaf mould applied to the soil
along with sawdust was used in suppressing the populations of plant parasitic
nematodes on tomato [50]. The azadirachtin
repels and disrupts the growth and reproduction of insects; melantrior causes
insects to cease feeding and sallanin inhibits feeding while nimbin and
nimbidin have antiviral activities [51].
2. Materials and methods
2.1 Study site
The experiment was conducted at the
Teaching and Research Farm of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti
State, Nigeria. The soil was a slightly acidic (pH (H2O = 6.4) loamy sand, with
moderate organic matter content (22.2 g/kg), total N (2.3 g/kg) and
exchangeable K (0.3 cmol/kg) while the available P was low (4.47 mg/kg) [19-20].
2.2 The treatments
The two composts were alkaline with pH
at 8.0 and 8.3 for PDS and CDS respectively. The CDS contained higher total N
and K (6.4 and 6.1 g/kg) while PDS contained higher total P (23.0 g/kg) [19-20].
The Sixteen (16) treatments applied in
three replicates are:
PDS=Poultry dung/ Sawdust
PDSBN= Poultry dung/Sawdust enriched
with Bone meal at 60 g/kg N
PDSBM=Poultry dung/Sawdust enriched with
Blood meal at 60 g/kg N
PDSTM=Poultry dung/Sawdust enriched with
Tithonia at 60 g/kg N
PDSHN= Poultry dung/Sawdust enriched
with Horn meal at 60 g/kg N
PDSHM=Poultry dung/Sawdust enriched with
Hoof meal at 60 g/kg N
PDSNM=Poultry dung/Sawdust enriched with
Neem at 60 g/kg N
CDS=Cow dung/Sawdust
CDSBN=Cow dung/Sawdust enriched with
Bone meal at 60 g/kg N
CDSBM=Cow dung/Sawdust enriched with
Blood meal at 60 g/kg N
CDSTM=Cow dung/Sawdust enriched with
Tithonia at 60 g/kg N
CDSHN=Cow dung/Sawdust enriched with
Horn meal at 60 g/kg N
CDSHM= Cow dung/Sawdust enriched with
Hoof meal at 60 g/kg N
CDSNM=Cow dung/Sawdust enriched with
Neem at 60 g/kg N
NPK, Soil Alone, there were a total of
48 plots.
2.3 Parameters measured
The parameters measured on the field are
plants height, number of leaves, stem girth, leaf width, leaf area and total
yield. The parameters were measured at 5th, 6th, and 7th
week after sowing.
2.4 Planting, Weeding and Harvesting
Compost
treatments were randomly assigned to various plots, of
2 m × 4 m each using completely randomized design (CRD). The different
treatments were weighed and mixed with soils of the assigned plots at the rate
of 30 t/ha. Sowing of amaranth seeds, at 2.5 kg/ha was done by broadcasting,
two weeks after composts’ application. Application of NPK, to the designated
plots, at 400 kg/ha was also done by broadcasting, two weeks after sowing.
Weeding was done twice during the period of study, by uprooting at 3 and 6
weeks after sowing. Sample seedlings were taken for measurements
of growth parameters: plant height, leaf area, stem girth, number of leaves and
marketable yield (obtained by uprooting and rinsing of vegetables to remove the
attached sands). Harvesting was done at 5, 6 and 7
weeks after sowing, by uprooting the vegetables.
2.5 Data analysis
Data collected were analyzed using the
analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were separated using Duncan multiple
range test at p=0.05.
3. Results and discussion
3.1 Performances of Amaranth treated with the
organic N-enriched composts
Growth
and yield performances of amaranth treated with composts enriched with organic
N sources at 5 weeks (WAS) are as indicated in Table 1. CDSNM and PDSNM
produced the tallest plants (29.7 cm), and highest number of leaves (PDSNM=
13.7 and CDSNM= 13.3 cm) which did not differ from more leaves (PDSNM= 13.7 and
CDSNM= 13.3 cm) though not significantly different from NPK treatment. The
thickest stems were obtained from the NPK treatment but which were not significantly
different from all N-enriched CDS based composts but significantly differed
from all PDS based composts except the PDSNM. The NPK treatment gave the
highest leaf width (43.3 cm) which was not different significantly from only
CDSNM while the leaf area (53.83 cm2) was significantly different
from the control, PDSBM, PDSHN, CDSBM and CDSHN. The highest marketable yield
of leaf amaranth (17.6 t/ha) was produced from the NPK treatment which was not
significantly different from 15.2 t/ha obtained from (CDSNM) while the composts
gave higher yields than the control. The CDSNM compared well with NPK as an
indication of fast N-releasing ability of CDSNM. [19]
reported a steady release of N, and probable reduction in fixation of available
N in CDSNM.
Table 1: Responses of Amaranth to composts enriched with organic N sources at 5 WAS
Treatments |
Plant
Height (cm) |
Number
of leaves |
Stem
Girth (cm) |
Leaf
Width (cm) |
Leaf
Area (cm2) |
Marketable
Yield (t/ha) |
Control |
22.00def |
8.00d |
2.50abc |
20.00e |
29.26f |
8.00d |
NPK |
27.30abc |
11.30abc |
2.80a |
43.33a |
53.83abc |
17.60a |
PDS |
19.70f |
9.70cd |
2.10bc |
28.00cde |
46.15abcde |
11.20bcd |
PDSBN |
24.70bcde |
11.30abc |
2.07cd |
25.00de |
44.20abcdef |
10.00cd |
PDSBM |
26.00abc |
11.70abc |
2.03dc |
30.67bcd |
36.42def |
12.27bc |
PDSTM |
21.00ef |
10.70abcd |
2.17bc |
35.00bc |
43.97abcde |
13.00bc |
PDSHN |
22.00def |
10.00cd |
1.57d |
27.00cde |
32.80def |
10.80cd |
PDSHM |
28.70ab |
12.70abc |
2.10c |
28.67cd |
37.87cdef |
11.37bcd |
PDSNM |
29.70a |
13.70a |
2.67ab |
31.00bcd |
54.33ab |
12.40bc |
CDS |
25.7abcde |
11.30abc |
2.03cd |
26.00de |
47.13abcd |
10.40cd |
CDSBN |
22.70cdef |
10.30bcd |
2.30abc |
23.67de |
40.67bcdef |
9.47cd |
CDSBM |
25.3abcde |
11.30abc |
2.37abc |
26.33de |
30.33ef |
10.53cd |
CDSTM |
27.00abc |
11.70abc |
2.53abc |
29.67cd |
44.13abcdef |
11.87bcd |
CDSHN |
24.3bcdef |
10.70abcd |
2.43abc |
27.33cde |
33.33def |
10.93cd |
CDSHM |
25.0abcde |
10.00cd |
2.30abc |
27.33cde |
38.22bcdef |
10.93cd |
CDSNM |
29.70a |
13.30ab |
2.57abc |
38.00ab |
57.83a |
15.20ab |
Means
with the same letters in the same columns are not significantly different at
α0.05 |
At 6 WAS (Table 2), the NPK treatment produced the tallest plants (54.67 cm), which differed significantly from all treatments except CDS (51.00 cm) while PDS gave the shortest vegetables (29.00 cm). The values of the growth parameters for CDSNM were lower than those obtained at 5 WAS probably as it released the N faster than PDSNM and some of the other composts. [19] reported a lower C: N ratio of the CDS than PDS which is an indication that N would be released earlier and faster in CDS. The NPK treatment outperformed most of the enriched composts, including CDSDNM in most of the growth parameters measured and marketable yield (18.53 t/ha) which was not significantly different from PDSHM (16.40 t/ha), PDSNM (17.47 t/ha), CDS (17.47 t/ha) and CDSBM (16.00 t/ha). The thinnest vegetables (28.33 cm) with the smallest leaves (20.67 cm in width) and lowest yield (8.27 t/ha) were obtained from plots treated with CDSHN.
Table 3 shows that the NPK-treated plots
at 7 WAS produced the highest marketable yield (22.67 t/ha) but was not
significantly different from the control, PDSHM, CDSHM and CDSNM. The CDSBM
gave the lowest vegetable yield of 8.93 t/ha at 7 WAS. The CDSBM gave the
lowest vegetable yield of 8.93 t/ha at 7 WAS. Some of the composts decreased in
yield and most of the growth parameters between the weeks PMSD, PDSTM, CDSTM,
CDSHN and CDSNM gave lower yields at 6 WAS but increased at 7 WAS while PDSHN,
PDSNM, CDS, CDSBN and CDSBM had yield increase at 6 WAS but reduced at 7 WAS.
The yields of PDSBN, PDSHM and CDSHM treatments increased throughout the study
period.
The enriched composts were comparable to NPK 15-15-15 and PMSD, PDSTM, CDSTM, CDSHN and CDSNM, which gave reduced yield values at 6 WAS could be recommended for short-season vegetables. [19] had noted the suitability of PDSTM for short-season vegetables and CDSNM for both short and long-season crops, including vegetables.
Table 2: Responses of Amaranth to composts enriched with organic N sources at 6 WAS
Treatments |
Plant
Height (cm) |
Number
of leaves |
Stem
Girth (cm) |
Leaf
Width (cm) |
Leaf
Area (cm2) |
Marketable
Yield (t/ha) |
Control |
31.00efg |
11.00a |
2.90ab |
29.00fg |
32.00e |
11.60fg |
NPK |
54.67a |
13.67a |
3.00a |
46.33a |
53.83bc |
18.53a |
PMSD |
29.00fg |
11.00a |
2.90ab |
25.00gh |
48.15bcd |
10.00gh |
PDSBN |
30.00efg |
13.67a |
2.60abcd |
26.00gh |
45.95cde |
10.40gh |
PDSBM |
30.00efg |
12.67a |
2.43bcd |
23.00gh |
38.13de |
9.20gh |
PDSTM |
34.00edf |
14.00a |
2.60abcd |
28.33fg |
47.17bcd |
11.33fg |
PDSHN |
31.67ef |
13.00a |
2.63abcd |
33.33def |
35.02de |
13.33def |
PDSHM |
36.00cde |
12.67a |
2.87ab |
41.00abc |
37.73de |
16.40abc |
PDSNM |
41.33bc |
12.33a |
2.73abcd |
43.67ab |
110.30a |
17.47ab |
CDS |
51.00a |
14.00a |
2.93ab |
43.67ab |
41.65de |
17.67ab |
CDSBN |
33.33def |
12.67a |
2.83ab |
37.33bcde |
38.73de |
14.93bcde |
CDSBM |
42.33b |
12.33a |
2.80abc |
40.00abcd |
31.73e |
16.00abcd |
CDSTM |
24.67g |
10.67a |
2.63abcd |
24.33gh |
42.15de |
9.73gh |
CDSHN |
28.33fg |
11.67a |
2.33cd |
20.67h |
37.07de |
8.27h |
CDSHM |
31.67ef |
12.33a |
2.87ab |
30.33efg |
39.75de |
12.13efg |
CDSNM |
38.33bcd |
14.00a |
2.90ab |
34.33cdef |
60.50b |
13.73cdef |
Means
with the same letters in the same columns are not significantly different at
α0.05 |
Table 3: Responses of Amaranth to composts enriched with organic N sources at 7 WAS
Treatments |
Plant
Height (cm) |
Number
of leaves |
Stem
Girth (cm) |
Leaf
Width (cm) |
Leaf
Area (cm2) |
Marketable
Yield (t/ha) |
Control |
38.00bcd |
15.00a |
2.700cd |
44.00ab |
39.25fg |
17.20ab |
NPK |
52.00a |
13.00abc |
3.200a |
56.67a |
63.08b |
22.67a |
PDS |
31.00cde |
11.33bc |
2.700cd |
31.00bc |
42.25fg |
12.27bc |
PDSBN |
26.67de |
10.67c |
2.700cd |
30.33bc |
52.72cde |
12.00bc |
PDSBM |
29.33cde |
13.00abc |
2.77abcd |
36.00bc |
43.33efg |
14.40bc |
PDSTM |
37.33cde |
11.33bc |
2.73bcd |
31.33bc |
55.33bcd |
12.40bc |
PDSHN |
30.67cde |
11.33bc |
2.50cd |
25.67bc |
37.82fg |
10.27bc |
PDSHM |
40.00bc |
13.33abc |
2.97abc |
44.33ab |
39.40fg |
17.33ab |
PDSNM |
32.00cde |
12.33abc |
2.83abc |
37.00bc |
112.00a |
14.67bc |
CDS |
29.67cde |
10.67c |
2.63cd |
29.33bc |
47.83def |
11.73bc |
CDSBN |
25.00e |
11.33bc |
2.73bcd |
36.33bc |
38.07fg |
14.40bc |
CDSBM |
25.67e |
13.33abc |
2.30d |
22.33c |
33.33g |
8.93c |
CDSTM |
29.67cde |
15.33a |
2.63cd |
29.33bc |
38.82fg |
11.60bc |
CDSHN |
25.33e |
12.67abc |
2.60cd |
24.33bc |
37.33fg |
9.73bc |
CDSHM |
44.00ab |
14.00ab |
2.17ab |
43.00ab |
40.67fg |
16.80abc |
CDSNM |
37.00bcde |
14.00a |
2.83abc |
42.00abc |
62.32bc |
16.40abc |
Means
with the same letters in the same columns are not significantly different at
α0.05 |
4. Conclusions
The composts: CDS and PDS did not differ
from the control treatment in leaf amaranth growth and marketable yields. This
makes additional N input inevitable to ensure that the N level in composts would support
crop performance. This was achieved with organic N
materials as the ensuing enriched composts gave higher growth and yield
parameters than the control and compared favourably with the quick
nutrient-releasing NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer in the growth and yield
measurements. The implication is that the enriched composts would effectively
replace inorganic fertilizers for soil management and improvement, especially
while putting the life cycle of crops into consideration. PMSD, PDSTM, CDSTM,
CDSHN CDSNM PDSHN, PDSNM, CDS, CDSBN and CDSBM, are recommended for
short-season crops and PMSD, PDSTM, CDSTM, CDSHN and CDSNM, whose yield values
increased at 7 WAS could also be useful for long-season crops, while PDSBN,
PDSHM and CDSHM with continuous yield increase should be adopted for both short
and long-season crops.
Authors’ contributions
Conceptualization, A.F.O; Methodology, A. F. O.; Software, A.F.O. and O.S.O.;
Validation, A.F.O. and O.S.O.; Formal Analysis, A.F.O.; Investigation, A.F.O.;
Resources, A.F.O.; Data Curation, A.F.O.; Original Draft Preparation, A.F.O.; Review
& Editing, O.S.O.; Supervision, A.F.O.; Project Administration, A.F.O;
Funding Acquisition, A.F.O. and O. S. O.
Availability of data and
materials
All data generated or
analyzed during this study are included in this published article.
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency “(the
public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors).
Conflicts of interest
The author declares
that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper
Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge the student who
worked with us, in person of Adetoro, Bukola Eniola. Immense thanks to her.
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This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution
4.0
License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Abstract
The reportedly low
nitrogen (N) contents of composts, widely used for sustainable soil
improvement, management and maintenance, has engendered its fortification with
other N-rich sources, especially inorganic fertilizers became a necessity. The
adoption of chemical fertilizers is however constrained by scarcity, rising
prices and the potential for environmental pollution, such that the potential
of alternative N-rich organic materials for compost fortification/enrichment
need to be exploited. The composts reportedly increased N concentrations in soils and
simultaneously raised the phosphorus and potassium levels such that their
impacts should be evaluated on crops. Two composts: cow
dung + sawdust (CDS) and poultry dung + sawdust (PDS) were enriched with organic materials: abattoir
wastes- bone (BN), hoof (HM), horn (HN) and blood (BM); tithonia (TM) and neem
(NM) meals to 60 kg
N levels as CDSBN, CDSBM, CDSHM, CDSHN, CDSNM and CDSTM; PDSBN, PDSBM, PDSHM,
PDSHN, PDSNM and PDSTM. The growth and yield responses of leaf amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) to the enriched
composts at 30 t ha-1 and 400 kg ha-1 NPK 15-15-15 were
assessed in a field experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design
with three replicates. Growth data collection and harvesting of amaranth were
done at 6, 7 and 8 weeks after sowing and data generated were subjected to
analysis of variance and the means separated using DMRT at p=0.05. Various
enriched composts are compared strongly with the inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and
can effectively serve as alternatives, to the inorganic fertilizers, putting
the cycles or life span of vegetables and crops in consideration.
Abstract Keywords
Composts, soil improvement, fortification, enrichment, organic
materials, N-rich sources, leaf amaranth.
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution
4.0
License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
License.(CC BY-NC 4.0).