Effect of Urine Sources on Some Soil Health Indicators, Maize Yield and Its Heavy Metals Uptake in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The need to find alternative to inorganic fertilizer which is costly and not easily affordable to local farmers necessitates research in rare areas. Thus, this experiment was carried out at the Plant and Screen house to study effect of urine sources on some soil health indicators, maize yield and its heavy metals uptake. Completely Randomized Design was used in laying the experiment. 20 kg of sieved soil was treated with different urine sources replicated five times. The result indicates that soil pH, total N and organic matter were significantly (P<0.05) higher in different urine sources than control. Human urine had significantly (P<0.05) higher treatment effect on soil pH, percent total N and organic matter compared to other sources of urine. Similarly, human urine was 9-10%, 15-27%, and 10-47% higher in number of leaves, plant height, and grain yield of maize when compared to those of cattle and goat urine sources. Significantly (P<0.05) higher copper and lead uptake by maize grains were obtained in control relative to those of urine sources. Copper and lead uptake by maize grains were respectively higher by 20, 80, 87% and 87, 47, 7% in control when compared to human, cattle and goat urine sources. Generally, heavy metals uptake by maize grains is below recommended safe limits for toxicity. Urine from adult animals is recommended as credible alternative for improvement of soil health status and sustainable productivity.