Agronomic Value of Composts Made from Fecal Sludge and Household Waste and Effect on Maize Production in Dschang (West Cameroon)

R.E. Kenne^1, , W. Fogang Noubep¹, P. Azinwi Tamfuh^{1, 2}, D. Lekemo Mbaveng¹, S.A. Kom Tchuente³, R.K. Enang¹, G.M. Ndzana¹, H. Ntangmo Tsafack⁴, E. Temgoua1¹ and D. Bitom¹

¹Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 222, Dschang, Cameroon

²Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering, National Higher Polytechnic Institute, University of Bamenda, P. O. Box 39 Bambili, Cameroon

³Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon

⁴Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon

Cite this paper

R.E. Kenne, W. Fogang Noubep, P. Azinwi Tamfuh, D. Lekemo Mbaveng, S.A. Kom Tchuente, R.K. Enang, G.M. Ndzana, H. Ntangmo Tsafack, E. Temgoua1 and D. Bitom. Agronomic Value of Composts Made from Fecal Sludge and Household Waste and Effect on Maize Production in Dschang (West Cameroon). World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2023; 11(3):72-82. doi: 10.12691/WJAR-11-3-2

Abstract

Managing fecal sludge waste is crucial to prevent potential environmental harm, and one promising approach is its transformation into organic soil amendments. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of compost derived from various organic waste sources and assess its impact on soil fertility, maize growth, yield, and economic viability. Four distinct compost types were generated using two primary organic waste sources: household solid waste (C1) and fecal sludge (FS) combined with solid household waste (SHW) in different proportions (C2, C3, and C4). These composts were then applied at varying rates to maize plots in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, resulting in ten treatment groups. The findings revealed a progressive improvement in the physico-chemical properties of the composts from C1 to C4. Notably, phosphorus (P) content increased from 0.29±0.03 (C1) to 0.54±0.07 (C4), and the pH levels shifted from 7.72±0.61 (C2) to 8.00±0.57 (C1). Total nitrogen (TN) ranged between 1.08±0.01 (C1) and 1.23±0.02% (C4). All compost types positively influenced soil parameters. However, the application of 20 t.ha^-1 of C1 resulted in greater above-ground biomass (48.23±12.64 t.ha^-1), while the application of 20 t.ha^-1 of C3 yielded the tallest maize plants (195.88± 7.35cm). Notably, compost C4 at a rate of 10 t.ha^-1 exhibited the highest maize production and economic returns (7.95±0.26 t.ha^-1, BCR = 2.81). In summary, treatment T7 (10 t.ha^-1 of C4 compost) is recommended for achieving enhanced maize production and increased profitability. This study underscores the potential benefits of using organic composts, particularly those derived from fecal sludge and household waste, to enhance soil quality and crop yields in agricultural contexts.

Keywords

composting, fecal sludge, household waste, soil amendment, crop production, Dschang

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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