Adeoye G.O., Sridhar M.K.C., AdeOluwa O.O., Akinsoji N.A.
Department of Agronomy, Gainesville, FL, United States; Division of Environmental Health, Organo-Mineral Fertilizer Research and Development Group, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Adeoye, G.O., Department of Agronomy, Gainesville, FL, United States; Sridhar, M.K.C., Division of Environmental Health, Organo-Mineral Fertilizer Research and Development Group, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; AdeOluwa, O.O., Department of Agronomy, Gainesville, FL, United States; Akinsoji, N.A., Department of Agronomy, Gainesville, FL, United States
Ibadan, like other urban centers in Nigeria is characterized by a large number of illegal solid waste dumps. These waste dumps decomposing under the tropical heat pose serious pollution problems to the ecosystems and at the same time are transformed naturally into 'manure' or compost over a period of stay and degradation under the tropical sun. Rapid decline in soil fertility under tropical climate coupled with high cost of chemical fertilizers make these manures very attractive for poor peasant farmers as alternate sources of fertilizers or soil conditioners. This study has evaluated the nutrient value of decomposed waste from six different municipal dumpsites of varying age ranging between 6 months and 20 years. A green house experiment was conducted using sand culture to study the effects of application of these manures on the growth and yield of a common green leafy vegetable, Amaranthus caudatus. These manures were also compared against organo-mineral fertilizers (prepared from cow dung and municipal solid wastes amended with mineral nitrogen and without amendment) used normally by the farmers. The results showed that the dumpsite manures are rich in C, N, P, and K, which promoted plant growth comparable to normal compost. © 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.