Impacts of Solid Wastes Usage as an Alternative to Fertilizer on Maize Production in Pyasaka District, Abuja

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted with the aim of experimenting the soil nutrient status and yield content of maize grain harvested from farmland enriched with solid waste, mmeral fertilizer (NPK) and control site respectively, in Pyakasa District, FCT, Abuja. Three randomized blocks of 50m2 in size, with three treatments and three repetitions, each was conducted. N- P- K fertilizer rates: 44- 15- 17 .5 (standard fertilizer recommendation for maize) was applied at block 'A,' while block B was treated with solid wastes of different categories at the ratio of 50tons. The control block 'C' was not treated. Soils from the three respective experimental blocks were obtained and analyzed for some physiochemical nutrient status, and heavy metal concentration. Additionally, maize grain was also sampled from the three experimental blocks and the proximate analysis of grains was analyzed to determine the nutritional values. The findings of the study include among others; the concentration of heavy metals is higher in the solid waste treatment block. The concentration of zinc (2.82ppm, 2.99ppm and 2.84ppm; 2.79ppm, 2.85ppm and 2.66ppm), copper (0.12ppm, 0.20ppm and 0.31 ppm; 0.07ppm, O. l 9ppin and 0.24ppm), iron (4.33ppm, 5.4lppm and 5.12ppm; 3.92ppm, 5.08ppm and 5.llppm), manganese (0.74ppm, 0.8 lppm and 0.92ppm; .62ppm, 0.76pp1n and 0.88ppm) and lead (O.OOlppm, 0.01 and O.Olppm; 0.00, 0.0 l ppm and 0.02ppm) in the respective sampled blocks (A, B and ) shows that solid waste treatment block has the highest concentration of heavy metals. The nutritional value of maize grain harvested from the three experimental block differs slightl y. Moisture content varied from 10.45% in block 'A' to 11.02% and 8.70% in block 'B' and 'C'. Ash content (3.97%, 4.12% and 3.89%), protein (10.50%, 10.01% and 9.87%), fibre (3.94%, 4.12% and 4.02%), oil (7.04%, 6.89% and 6.13%) and NFE (70.12%, 69'.l/o and 66.98%) were all higher in the NPK and solid wa~te treatment block (A an~ B). Thus, solid_ waste manure can be a good_ ~ource altematif~ for maize plant. However, the mmeral Joncentration (F = 0.153, df= 2, F. critical = 3.259 ar~ P = 0.85; 'F' = 0.291, 'd.f' = 2, 'F critical'= 3.682 and 'P' = 0. 752) and heavy metal concen~ation (F = 0.023, df= 2, F. critical= 3.682 and P = 0.97; 'F' = 0.033, 'd.f' = 2, 'F critical' = 3.682 and 'P' = 0.968) of the sampled topsoil and subsoil are statistically not significant. Likewise, the grain nutritional value (F = 0.0004, df = 2, F. critical= 3.682 and P = 0.996) from the three experimental groups are statistically not different. The study recommends among others that; the application of solid waste materials/ compost in agricultural field must be free from pathogens and heavy metal contents. If this condition is not achieved, solid waste compost should not be applied in any agricultural field as a medium to burst soil nutrient.