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EFFECTS OF SWINE WASTE/SAWDUST COMPOST ON THE PERFORMANCE OF EGGPLANT (SOLANUM AETHIOPICUM) ON SOIL DERIVED FROM COASTAL PLAIN SANDS IN AKWA IBOM STATE NIGERIA
Author(s): Ekong,U. J., Etim, I. A and Okon, E. Udoh
Volume/Issue: Volume 6, Issue 1(2026)
ABSTRACT:
A screen house experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Akwa Ibom StateUniversity, ObioAkpa Campus to determine the chemical composition of swine waste (SW)/Sawdust (SD)composts and effectson the growth and yield of eggplant (Solanumaethiopicum). Five treatments (SW/SD)in the ratios of: A (2:1), B (4:1), C (8:1), D (1:4) and control were applied to eggplant in a pot experimentlaid out in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. The results revealed that thechemical composition of composts at four and eight weeks of compositing recorded organic carbonslightly higher at four weeks than at eight weeks while total nitrogen was higher at eight weeks than at fourweeks of composting, indicating a reduction in the C/N ratio of the composts. Calcium and Magnesiumcontents were higher at four weeks than at eight weeks. Sodium, Potassium and Phosphorus contents weresignificantly higher at eight weeks than at four weeks of composting. Copper, Manganese, Zinc and Ironwere lower at eight weeks than at four weeks of composting. The plant height, stem girth and leaf area ofeggplant at fourteen weeks after transplanting were significantly (P 0.05) different and were found in the-1order of compost A>B>C>D> control and the yields obtained were in the order of compost B (2.0 tha )-1 -1 -1 -1 >C (1.9 tha ) >D (1.5 tha ) = A(1.5 tha ) > Control (0.0 tha ).
KEYWORDS:
Composts, Chemical Composition, Coastal Plain Sands, Eggplant, Nigeria.
