Exploring the Effectiveness of Human Waste Compost in Improving Agricultural Soil: A Comparative Study with Poultry Manure, Cow Dung, and Vermicompost

Abstract

The heightened application of chemical fertilizers to enhance agricultural output jeopardizes agricultural and environmental sustainability. The present study assessed the influence of various organic amendments on soil properties. The experimental design encompassed a Randomized Complete Block Design, with treatments that included a control group along with vermicompost, human waste compost, poultry manure, and cow dung. The primary focus of the experiment was to evaluate multiple soil attributes, such as soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K), available sulfur (S), and exchangeable sodium (Na), to determine the impact of different manure applications. The findings of the study confirmed significant alterations in soil physicochemical parameters due to the application of these treatments. Notably, poultry manure and vermicompost exhibited the most substantial positive effects on total nitrogen, resulting in increases of 0.16% and 0.14%, respectively. In cases of phosphorus deficiency, both poultry manure and human waste compost were found to be effective in increasing soil phosphorus levels. Moreover, vermicompost and poultry manure were found to enhance the exchangeable potassium levels, with values of 0.467 and 0.432 meq/100 g soil, respectively. Sulfur content was notably higher in plots treated with poultry manure (20.5 ppm), followed by vermicompost (17.87 ppm) and human waste compost (17.21 ppm). Additionally, the treatment with human waste compost exhibited the highest electrical conductivity (243 µs/cm), while poultry manure had the most significant impact on increasing organic matter, showing a substantial 2.76% increment. The study's findings advocate for a transition from chemical fertilizers to compost fertilizers, which would enhance agricultural soil and promote sustainability in both agriculture and the environment.