ABSTRACT

The physiochemical properties of vegetable compost were carried out in the laboratory to determine its quality. The vegetable wastes were obtained from different vendors, at ring road, L.G.A Oredo, Benin city, Edo state. Then it was cut into tiny sizes to aid decomposition. The vegetable wastes were prepared by washing, cutting into little sizes and mixing together. The compost was prepared by employing the closed compost system and was allowed to decay for six weeks in the presence of good aeration and moisture system to speed up decomposition rate of microorganism (compost decomposer). The results obtained after the end of the composting period was 66.5% moisture content, 3.41mS/cm electrical conductivity, 14.50% total organic carbon, 0.70% of total organic nitrogen,  15:1 ratio of C/N ratio, 33.82mg/kg of NH₄-N, 1364.90mg/kg of NO₃-N, 803.57mg/kg of SO₄, 0.6% of PO₄, 0.26% of total phosphorus, 0.63% of total potassium,  120mg/kg of total copper, 230mg/kg of zinc,  214mg/kg of magnesium, 0.19% total sodium, 412mg/kg of calcium, 3.10%  ash content, 30.40% organic matter, and 33.40% dry matter. The results were compared with several standard value of quality compost, and it was observed that the compost was of good quality and can be applied in acids loving soil plants like some flowering, plants, vegetables, fruits and trees.