Impact of urban compost manure on the soil physical properties, growth, yield and quality of lettuce

Most soils close to urban centers are often degraded due to intensive cultivation, resulting in low organic matter content and low plant nutrients. Remnants of vegetable materials are frequently abandoned in urban markets in Nigeria and their disposal by local councils is expensive; these materials therefore constitute a nuisance to the environment. However, these materials can be composted and used as soil amendment. A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria during the ۲۰۱۸ and ۲۰۱۹ cropping growing seasons to evaluate the effects of urban wastes as compost on the growth, yield and nutritional composition of lettuce. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated four times. The rates of compost application were as follows; ۰, ۵, ۱۰, ۱۵, ۲۰ Mg/ha and NPK at the rate of ۳۰۰ kg ha-۱. Data were collected on vegetative parameters (plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index), yield parameters (yield per net plot, yield per hectare), and the vitamin composition (Vitamins A and C). The results showed that the application of compost manure improved the soil physical and chemical properties such as the water holding capacity, which was improved by ۲۷.۷۷% and ۲۹.۴۳% in the first and second growing seasons respectively. The application of ۲۰ Mg ha-۱ produced superior growth and yield (۳۴.۹۳ and ۳۳.۶۴ Mg ha-۱) in the first and second growing seasons, respectively. Farmers are therefore encouraged to plant their lettuce crop using compost manure especially in urban areas.

Keywords:

Compost , Growth , Lettuce , Nutrient content