Enhancement of Agricultural Productivity through Application of Compost Produced Using Rice Husks (Oryza sativa) and Water fern (Azolla pinnata)

Purpose: Composting agro-wastes enhances plant growth with minimal health and environmental threats. Thus, this study focused on the potential of composting rice husk (Oryza sativa) with water fern plants(azolla) to increase agricultural productivity with minimal health and environmental pollutions. Method: The study employed laboratory experimentation and analysis. In experimental design the Minitab software was used to design these experiments whereby two factors were considered which are the particle size (2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm) and mixing ratio (1:3; 1:1; 3:1 and 4:0; 0:4). Fifteen (15) wood compartments with dimensions of 30 cm x ‏ ‏‏30cm ‏‏x 35 cm each cube of ‏‏maximum carrying capacity ‏‏of 5 kg were developed. Results: The results for physical and chemical properties of feedstock’s showed that rice husks contained 8.55% of Moisture Content, pH (6.15), total organic carbon (46.1%), ash content (20.6%), PO43- (2475 mg/kg), K (5042 mg/kg), Na (1490.4 mg/kg), total nitrogen (0.735%) and Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (34.21). Azolla contained Moisture Content (93.48%), pH (6.73), TOC (42.67%), TN (3.255%), C/N ratio (13.02%), PO43-, (4262.5mg/kg), K (1268 mg/kg), and Na (7379.52 mg/kg). The composting made using samples with particle size of < 2 mm were observed to support the growth of Amaranthus spinous quickly with the average growth rate of 0.9572 cm/day than other compost produced with particles size of 3 mm and 4 mm Conclusion: This study shows that there is a potential of composting rice husks with azolla for nutrient resource recovery to support crop productivity. Research Highlights The study focused on the potential of composting rice husks (oryza sativa) with water fern plants (azolla) for agricultural productivity Agro waste products are rich of nutrients and hence potential resources in supporting plant growth Feed stocks made with particle size of < 2mm supported plant growth than other compost produced with particle size of 3 mm and 4 mm The total nitrogen in the composite ranged from 0.835% to 1.575% indicating the biofertilizer available in the feed stocks used The CN ratio of the compost ranged from 21.65 to 38.61 which indicates its potential for resource recovery useful to support plant growth