ABSTRACT
This research studied the nutrient components present in agricultural soil that was amended with 8 weeks compost. The compost was prepared using fruit and vegetable wastes obtained from commercial fruit vendors around Ugbowo. The Cow bone was sourced from abattoirs in New Benin, the corn cob was sourced from corn mills in New Benin while the palm oil sludge was from palm oil mills at Adolor. The vegetable waste was chopped into small sizes, the cow bone and the corn cob were grinded which was then used in the preparation of the compost. The physicochemical characterisation of the compost was carried out after it has matured for 8 weeks with the following results: Moisture content (62.121±1.32)%, Ash content (7.163±0.22)%, Volatile matter (92.84±0.22)%, pH (7.36±0.05), Electrical conductivity (397±83.13), Total organic carbon (76.93±11.99)mg/Kg, Total organic matter (132.62±20.67) mg/Kg, Total nitrogen (2213.24±160)mg/Kg, Phosphorus (1456.29±206) mg/Kg, Potassium (1493±19.27) mg/Kg. The compost was mixed with agricultural soil in 3 ratios (1:1, 3:1,1) which was used to plant cowpea seeds (Vigna unguiculata). The results from the pot experiment showed the compost/soil mixture of ratio 1:1 gave better yield after 19 days ( N= 15999.10± 187.34, P= 7833.8±23.8, K= 1980±25.1, Mg= 111±2.56)mg/Kg followed by compost/soil mixture of ratio 3:1 (N= 12627±198.76, P= 5608± 18.63, K= 2920±56.8, Mg= 87±1.27) mg/Kg and the pot containing 100% soil (N=1718.91± 12.5, P= 2371.3± 71.5, K= 190 ± 1.34, Mg= 10± 0.30) mg/Kg.
