Efficacy of Selected Crop Residues and Rock Phosphate in Improving the Quality of Cattle Manure

Abstract

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 effectiveness 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.