Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The utilization of composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) as an organic fertilizer has gained significant attention due to its potential to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of composted municipal solid waste in comparison to NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four treatments T1 (Control), T2 (100% NPK fertilizer), T3 (100% CMSW), and T4 (50% NPK fertilizer + 50% CMSW). The parameters assessed included plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, days to tasseling, days to silking, cob length, cob diameter, number of grains per cob, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield. The results showed that the application of CMSW, either solely or in combination with NPK fertilizer, significantly improved the growth parameters of maize compared to the control. Plants treated with CMSW exhibited increased plant height, more leaves, and larger stem girth. Additionally, the days to tasseling and silking were reduced in the CMSW-treated plants, indicating accelerated reproductive development. The cob length, diameter, number of grains per cob, and 1000-grain weight were also higher in the CMSW-treated plants, leading to a substantial increase in grain yield. Furthermore, the combined application of 50% NPK fertilizer and 50% CMSW resulted in comparable growth parameters and yield to the 100% NPK fertilizer treatment, demonstrating the potential of integrating organic and inorganic fertilizers for sustainable maize production. This synergistic effect could be attributed to the balanced nutrient supply from both sources, promoting optimal plant growth and development. Overall, the results suggest that composted municipal solid waste can be a viable alternative to synthetic fertilizers for maize cultivation, offering environmental benefits through waste recycling and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Incorporating CMSW into agricultural practices not only enhances soil health and crop productivity but also contributes to waste management and sustainability goals. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects of CMSW application on soil fertility and crop productivity, as well as to assess its impact on the nutritional quality of maize grains.

Thesis Overview

Municipalities are facing a growing problem of how to safely dispose off their wastes. Municipalsolid waste (MSW) is waste from households, commercial centres, institutions (school, offices).Composting is used to reduce huge pile of biodegradable MSW and convert it into value addedproduct like manure and biogas. Inorganic fertilizer such as NPK also exerts strong influence onplant growth, development and yield. Two year experiments were conducted in the Teaching andResearch Farm of Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria,Nsukka to determine the response of maize to MSW compost and NPK fertilizer application. A 4 x 4factorial experiment in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was used for the study.

The two factors were MSW (0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 t/ha) and NPK (20:10:10) (0, 100,200 and 300 kg/ha). The following data were collected: leaf area, Plant height, stem girth, number ofleaves, days to first tasseling, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, ear weight, ear height, earcircumference, cob weight, 100 grain weight, grain yield and harvest index. Data collected weresubjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The means were separated using Fisher’s leastsignificant difference (F-LSD). Plant height, leaf area, number of leaves and stem girth increasedwith increase in NPK and MSW rates while days to tasselling and silking was reduced. The 100grain weight, grain yield per hectare and harvest index were significantly increased with increase inMSW and NPK rates. Proximate composition followed the same trend apart from carbohydratecontent which decreased with increase in application rates of MSW and NPK. Application of either2000 kg/ha MSW or 300 kg/ha NPK gave the highest yield of maize in 2011 and 2012.Complementary application of MSW and NPK was significantly higher than sole application.Combination of 2.0 t/ha MSW with 300 kg/ha NPK had significantly higher effect than othertreatment combination in both years and were found satisfactory for achieving high yields in maize.It is recommended that further research should be carried out to determine the optimum ratesrequired for maize production since performance increased up to the highest rates of MSW and NPK fertilizer