The Effect of Rice Husk Dusts Treated with Urine on Soil Fertility Status and Yield of Upland Rice in Abakaliki, Southeastern, Nigeria

To enhance nutrient release by rice husk dust, it was treated with human urine, swine slurry and water, with an untreated rice husk dust and control (no rice husk dust) as standards. These treatments were laid out in the field in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated four times. The result shows that human urine decomposed material recorded pH of 5.89 (medium acid), total organic carbon and total organic matter of 215 and 370.7g kg-1 respectively, which are rated as high. The exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, and Na were 34.29, 46.28, 34.8 and 21.4 cmol kg-1 respectively which are high. The swine slurry and water decomposed rice husk dust recorded similar properties. The nutrient release was more in human urine and swine slurry decomposed rice husk dust plot compared to control. For example, rice grain yields were 3.5, 4.03 and 4.17 t ha-1 for three years of study in human urine plot, and 3.30,3.35 and 4.02 t ha-1 in swine slurry plot. Hence, urine decomposition was a good option for converting lignin high rice husk dust to nutrient-rich organic amendment in tropical Nigeria. The pre-treatment of human urine before the application was recommended to allay health and environmental scare by farmers/agriculturists and the consumer.