Formulated Faecal Sludge and Compost Fertilizer Pellet for Crop Production: The Case Study of the Lavender Hill Faecal Treatment Plant

Abstract

The application of excreta-based fertilizers has attracted attention due to the increasing prices of chemically produced fertilizers and low soil fertility problem of the agricultural land. This study was carried out to assess the efficacy of mixed dried Faecal Sludge (DFS) and municipal organic Compost pelletized on lettuce production. Faecal sludge was dried and mixed with compost produced from Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACRP). Analysis of the characteristics of Dry Faecal Sludge and Compost informed in the formulation of three (3) different composition in accordance with estimated variation on percentage nitrogen of 1.5%, 2.0% and 2.5%. The ratios were 1:3.3, 1:1.1 and 1:0.4 (w/w) of Dry Faecal Sludge and Compost respectively. The mixed formulation was pelletized using a pelletizer machine. Starch and clay were used as binding materials for pelletization. The pelletized treatment was used in the production of lettuce. Application of the pelletized treatments confirmed that, pelletize mix of Dry Faecal Sludge and Compost with starch as a binder is highly recommended as it had greater significant effect (p<0.05) on Lettuce Height, wet weight and number of leafs. M3 with ratio 1:0.4 (w/w) DM basis of faecal sludge and compost recorded the highest average dry weight of lettu