Evaluation of Thermally Treated Faecal Sludge As A Potential Source of Organic Fertilizer

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue VIII, August 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Evaluation of Thermally Treated Faecal Sludge As A Potential Source of Organic Fertilizer

I.A. Anuoluwa^1*, B.S. Anuoluwa², O.M. Bolaji² and G.R.E.E.Ana²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Nigeria
²Department of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author

Abstract: – This study was aimed at assessing the effect of heat on the efficacy of thermally treated faecal sludge as organic fertilizer, going by the fact that some farmers use untreated faecal sludge with its attendant health risk as organic fertilizer.Uuntreated faecal sludge were collected from two major collection points. A portion of the untreated faecal sludge was subjected to thermal treatment using oven drying method at 1000C for 1hour. Seventy Kilograms of soil sample was collected. The untreated faecal sludge, treated faecal sludge and soil were analysed for their physico-chemical properties. Six planting groups each with five replicates were set up, two kilograms of soil was weighed into each pot and used for planting cowpea (Vignaunguiculata) for ten weeks. Agronomic parameters such as number of leaf, stem diameter, plant height were monitored during the experiment.Analysis using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p=0.05 was conducted on data obtained. Significant difference was observed in the agronomic parameters measured among the treatment groups with the soil amended with treated faecal sludge sample having the highest yield. Therefore, the use of thermally treated faecal sludge should be explored to improve the safety of farm produce grown with it.

Keywords: organic fertilizer, pre-treatment, agronomic parameters, faecal sludge

I. INTRODUCTION

Human excreta consist of faeces and urine, which are the waste products of body metabolism. A person’s health as well as on the quality and quantity of food and liquid consumed usually influence the appearance, physical and chemical characteristics of urine and faeces (Lentner et al., 1981; Feachem et al., 1983). According to Guyton, urine is the excreta fraction that is filtered from the blood by the kidneys (Guyton, 1992). It is employed as a balancing medium for liquids and salts by the body and the amount of urine excreted by a person therefore varies (Jönsson et al., 2004). Urine is largely made up of approximately 93-96% water (Vinnerås et al., 2006), and large quantities of plant nutrients that are mainly in water-soluble form (Jönsson et al., 2004).

Read More