Efficacy of Selected Crop Residues and Rock Phosphate in Improving the Quality of Cattle Manure
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Date
2021
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
Cattle manure (CM) is noted for its poor nutrient quality especially in Ghana where most cattle are fed on a free range. There is therefore a need to
improve its quality since it is a vital nutrient resource for smallholder farmers. An experiment was thus carried out by composting cocoa pod husk (CPH),
palm kernel cake (PKC) and rock phosphate (RP) to investigate their effec tiveness for use as nutrient sources for improving the fertilizer value of cattle
manure (CM). Four compost ratios (CM + PKC (3:1), CM + CPH (3:1), CM + RP (3:1) and CM + PKC + CPH + RP (3:1:1:1)) were formulated and replicated
three times in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The findings showed that, addition of CPH, PKC and RP to CM improved the fertilizer
value of cattle manure. The CM + PKC + CPH + RP (3:1:1:1) compost increased the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents of cattle manure
by 73%, 145% and 50%, respectively and was therefore considered the most effective in enhancing the nutrient value of cattle manure. This compost was
thus evaluated through field application to maize. The study also revealed that increasing the application rate of compost increased maize grain yields. Hence, cocoa pod husk, palm kernel cake and rock phosphate can be exploited for use as important resources for improving the fertilizer value
of cattle manure.
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This article is Published by Taylor and Francis 2020, and is also available at https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2020.1862151