Utilization and management of biodegradable farm and household waste

This study, consisting of three separate but interrelated studies, was conducted to assess the composted farm and household wastes and their usefulness as organic fertilizer for the growth of rice seedlings. Study 1 dealt with the composting of farm wastes using three methods, namely: bio-enriched, rapid, and effective microorganisms. Study 2 dealt with the biodegradation of household wastes using effective microorganisms as agent while Study 2 dealt with the comparison of the best among farm, household wastes composts (in terms of nutrient content), and inorganic as sources of nutrients on the growth of rice seedlings. Results obtained from the study revealed differences in color between farm waste compost and household waste. Farm waste was very dark brown (10 YR 2/2) in all treatments used while household waste (HHW) compost without effective microorganisms was very dark grayish brown. HHW compost with EM was black. In terms of odor, Bio-enriched, Rapid/CFA, and EM composts scoring 2.70, 3.30 and 3.20, respectively were moderately odorous. Similarly, the household waste compost was moderately odorous and slightly odorous with scores of 2.73 and 2.03. Also, insignificant differences existed in the moisture content of the different composts. This ranged from 48.45 to 49.22%. On the other hand, HHW compost without EM had significantly higher moisture content of 30.5% than HHW compost with EM (23.44%). Bacterial count of the composting methods was comparable. This was within the range of 4.83 x 10d to 6.81 x 10d colony forming unit (cfu) per gram. The same result was obtained on fungal count that ranged from 1.15 x 10d to 1.79 x 10d cfu/g. EM method registered the highest species isolated with four species of bacteria while Bio - enriched and Rapid had three species each. On the other hand, bacteria in the household waste fermented-decomposed treated with EM was 24% higher in population count than without EM. However, these were far less than the minimum number in a gram compost which is 1 x 10d cfu/g. In terms of population count of fungi, household waste fermented - decomposed treated with EM was lower by 33% than without EM. Among the twelve isolates, Cehalosporium sp. Registered the highest lost of 1014.81 CFU/g in compost with EM. Aspergillus flavus obtained the highest fungal load with 896.30 CFU/g in compost without EM. The farm waste compost was comparable in chemical composition. However, household waste compost had significantly higher available P, K and Mg but not N and Ca than farm waste. The composted materials applied as fertilizer for growing rice seedlings showed favorable results. Application of FWC and HWC in combination with 45 - 15 - 15 kg NPK ha.-£ significantly increased the height of the plant and dry matter weight of 15 days old PSB Rc 72H seedlings. However, seedlings fertilized with inorganic fertilizer at the rate of 90-30-30 were the tallest at 24.67 cm. Tissue analysis conducted showed that the nitrogen (N) content of rice seedlings applied with 90 - 30 - 30 was 1.40% while the unfertilized plants had 0.44%. The N of the organic fertilizers applied were taken up by the plants at 91% and 86% from the 2.5t FWC and 5 t FWC, respectively and 72% to 83% from the 2.5 t HHWC and 5 t HHWC, respectively. The highest N residual was observed in rice plants treated with 90 - 30 - 30 kg NPK ha.-¹ (4.67 g) while the lowest was from those planted in unfertilized soil (2.80g). Application of 2.5 t FWC and 2.5 t HHWC in combination with 45 - 15 - 15 kg NPK ha.-¹ was the highest N as losses with 19% and 20%, respectively.