Comparison of the composting time and the associated microbes in the composting of homaliumletestui pellegr. and gliricidium (jacq.)leaves.
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Date
2016
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Publisher
Obafemi Awolowo University
Abstract
This study isolated, identified and compared the microorganisms associated with the composting of HomaliumletestuiPellegr. and Gliricidiumsepium(Jacq.) leaves. It also compared the composting rate of the leaves and the effects of cow dung and chicken droppings used as activators for the composting. The study also determined the compost quality as well as C:N and the fibre contents of the leaves with a view to evaluating the agronomic value of the composts produced.
The leaves of H. letestui were chopped into small sizes. The leaves of H. letestuiandG. sepium
were mixed with each activator at ratio 1:1. The two leaves were combined together and mixed with each activator at ratio 1:1. Five (5) gram from each leaf mixtures was collected weekly, dissolved in 50 ml of maximum recovery diluent (MRD) and shaken vigorously to free maximum microorganisms bound up in organo-mineral complex.Serial dilutions were carried out and spread plate and pour plate methods wereused to enumerate the microbial population at each sampling period. Representative bacterial and fungal colonies were isolated on nutrient agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar, respectively to yield distinct colonies.Fungi characterization was done by cultural and microscopic examinations while microscopic examination and biochemical tests were carried out on the bacterial isolates. The organic carbon, crude nitrogen, potassium, iron and zinc of all composts were determined by standard methods. The fibre content of the leaves was evaluated by enzymatic-colorimetric method.
The heterotrophic bacterial load ranged from 2 x 103 to 1 x 107 cfu/g while the fungal population ranged from 2 x 102 to 9 x 106cfu/g. Gliricidiumsepium leaf with lower fibre content of 5.62% and lower carbon to nitrogen ratio of 29 composted faster than Homaliumletestui leaf with fibre content of 9.73% and carbon to nitrogen ratio of 50. When activators (cow dung and chicken droppings) were added to the piles, cow dung composted the leaves faster than chicken droppings. Cow dung also support the growth of maize while the addition of chicken dropping to piles provided a better fertilizer quality to composts. The N, P and K content in all piles were within the acceptable limits of 1%, 1.5% and 1% respectively specified by FAO (2001). No coliform was detected at the end of the composting process
The study concluded that Gliricidiumsepiumleaves whichcomposted faster, because of its lower fibre contents and carbon to nitrogen ratio and had higher agronomic value when compared to Homaliumletestuileaves.
Description
xx,89
Keywords
Homaliumletestui, Gliricidiumsepium, Leaves, HomaliumletestuiPellegr, Microbes
Citation
Ayilara, M.S. (2016)Comparison of the composting time and the associated microbes in the composting of homaliumletestui pellegr. and gliricidium (jacq.)leaves. Obafemi Awolowo University