Evaluation of Co-Composted Faecal Sludge Application in Agriculture

Abstract

Water scarcity, increasing cost of inputs and poor soil quality are major reasons for decreasing agricultural productivity in India. It is therefore critical to optimize soil organic matter, which is vital for enhanced soil quality to improve productivity. Considering that some of the organic sources like farmyard manure, crop residues, green manure, etc. are dwindling as well as the negative implications of chemical fertilisers, we need to consider alternative sources. In this context, a study was conducted to evaluate the application of co-composted faecal sludge (FS) as an alternative; and to provide scientific evidence through field experiments about the potential for co-compost application in agriculture. An agricultural trial was conducted for two cropping seasons. The co-composted FS was one of the nutrient sources used in the trial. Nutrient-balanced final co-compost was produced as faecal sludge is rich in nitrogen; municipal wet waste is rich in carbon content. Randomised Block Design method was followed, and the application of five treatments with four replications per treatment was undertaken. Treatments comprised four types of nutrient sources-namely, treated faecal sludge, cocomposted FS (co-compost), farmyard manure, chemical fertilizers and control. The findings of the study showed that the yield obtained from crops grown under co-composted FS was higher than the other four treatments. The parameters for crop growth and development were better for co-compost applied crops. Further, the produce grown under co-composted FS was free from pathogen contamination. The study showcased the potential of co-composted FS as a nutrient source vis-à-vis other sources considered for the trial. The study showed that reusing co-composted FS in agriculture can benefit the farming community by enhancing soil productivity there by increasing crop yield. The study also highlights the need for further research to assess the impact of co-composted FS application on crop nutrient content and weed menace.

Agronomic potential of excreta-based biofertilizers made from treated human feces and urine for crop production

“…The outcomes are similar or better results to employing solely chemical fertilizers (GERMER et al, 2011;GIRIJA et al, 2019;LIU et al, 2011). Therefore, the lettuce cultivated in the present study could probably have shown a growth comparable to the T2 if the other nutrient deficits were met.…”

Aplicação de fezes compostadas com resíduos orgânicos em plantio de alface: decaimento da bactéria Escherichia coli no solo e avaliação quantitativa de risco microbiológico

“…Diversos processos vêm sendo empregados no tratamento de excretas com vistas ao seu reaproveitamento agrícola. Nesse sentido, destaca-se a compostagem, que consiste na transformação biológica de resíduos orgânicos em compostos húmicos mediante a atividade microbiana aeróbia sob condições controladas, reduzindo a massa e o volume dos materiais (GIRIJA et al, 2019). Compostos húmicos representam um grupo complexo de compostos orgânicos macromoleculares com alta estabilidade para uso na agricultura (COFIE et al, 2016).…”

“…Compostos húmicos representam um grupo complexo de compostos orgânicos macromoleculares com alta estabilidade para uso na agricultura (COFIE et al, 2016). O processo é baseado na destruição térmica e, portanto, inativa satisfatoriamente uma ampla gama de microrganismos (GIRIJA et al, 2019), entretanto a qualidade do composto final depende do controle de vários fatores durante a compostagem, como composição da matéria-prima, relação C:N, tamanho das partículas, pH, temperatura, teor de umidade, aeração e parâmetros operacionais, tais como frequência de revolvimento e monitoramento (COFIE et al, 2016). Após o processo, existe risco de recrescimento de microrganismos patogênicos pela presença de nutrientes e umidade no material compostado (VINNERÅS; BJÖRKLUND; JÖNSSON, 2003).…”

Impacts of different treatment methods for cattle manure on the spread of faecal indicator organisms from soil to lettuce in Nigeria

“…Similar trends were also observed with the plant height and number of leaves of lettuces. In India, Girija et al (2019) observed that the application of co‐composted faecal sludge from municipal and human wastes resulted in significantly higher yields of crops than untreated farmyard manure, treated faecal sludge, chemical fertilizers and control plots with no treatment. Other parameters such as plant heights, number of leaves, number of beans and weight of beans marginally increased in agricultural soils amended with the co‐compost compared with other treatments.…”