USE OF FISH POND WATER AND RICE WASTES COMPOST FOR THE CULTIVATION OF RICE IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Coping with accumulated agricultural wastes are major challenges in Nigeria. Fish pond water and rice wastes were such examples but these can be recycled through environmental friendly technique. Hence, this research evaluated compost formulated with fish pond water and rice wastes for rice cultivation Nigeria. Seeds were sown in plots treated with the composts (Fish pond water/Rice husk [FPW/RH] and Fish pond water/Rice straw [FPW/RS]) at 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 t/ha in RCB design with four replicates from 2018 to 2020 farming seasons. Plant height (PH), leaf area (LA), Plant girth (PG), dry matter yield (DMY), grain yield (GY) and soil chemical properties were measured. ANOVA was used to analyze data collected and Duncan Multiple Range Test at α0.05 was used for mean separation. Treated plots increased significantly the growth, yields of rice and soil chemical properties compared with control plots. In first year, 5 t/ha of FPW/RS had the tallest PH and LA, 10 t/ha of FPW/RS had the highest PG and DMY while 10 FPW/RH produced the highest GY. In second year, 10 FPW/RH had the highest PH, LA and GY while 10 FPW/RS had the highest DMY. In third year, 10 FPW/RS had the tallest PH, PG and DMY while 10 FPW/RH had the highest LA and GY. Highest organic matter, available P were recorded in plots treated with 10 FPW/RH while FPW/RH and FPW/RS at the rate of 10 t/ha had similar total N in first year. In second year, 10 FPW/RS had the highest organic carbon and total nitrogen. The fish pond water and rice wastes compost increased the growth and yield of rice and also improved soil properties. Therefore, it could be use as organic fertilizer for rice cultivation.