Nutrient compositions of liquid and solid fractions of organic waste fermentation and the influence on growth and yield of okra

The study was carried out in a screen-house in the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to investigate the nutrient compositions of liquid and solid fractions (biol and biosol) of organic waste fermentation, and the influence on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench). The organic waste materials used were rice husk, moringa pod husk and dry grass (Panicum maximum). The morphological characteristics considered were plant height (cm), stem girth (cm) and number of leaves. The yield characteristics were number of fruits/plant, number of seeds/fruit, 100 seed weight (g), fresh fruit weight (g/plant), fruit length (cm) and fruit circumference (cm). Laboratory chemical analysis was carried out to determine the percentage nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and carbon (C) contents of the organic waste materials. Proximate analysis of the waste materials was also carried out to determine the percentage crude protein, ash, fat and moisture contents. The result of the chemical analysis of the waste plant materials after fermentation showed high concentrations of N, P, K and percentage carbon (%C) in the solid than liquid fraction. Percentage crude protein, ash and fat contents of the waste materials were more in the solid than the liquid fraction in all the plant materials. The moisture contents of the plant materials increased after fermentation. Rice husk significantly (p < 0.05) increased the morphological characteristics. At six weeks after planting, the liquid fraction (biol) gave the highest plant height, stem girth and leaf number compared with the solid fraction (biosol) and combination of the liquid and solid fractions. The particle size difference had no significant (t > 0.05) effect on the morphological and yield parameters. Boil gave the highest values of most of the yield characteristics followed by combination of boil and biosol in the two months of fermentation.