EFFECT OF SOIL AMMENDMENT WITH ORGANIC WASTES ON SOIL PROPERTIES IN PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS, NIGERIATUBONIMI, J.K.IDERIAH AND CHIKA IGWEAbstract Topsoil samples (0-15cm) from parts of Port Harcourt were incubated for 56 days by treating the soil samples with inorganic fertilizer and organic wastes from five waste dumpsites under aerobic condition at 27 (:C. The samples were analyzed for pi I, total nitrogen, organic matter, carbon/nitrogen ratio and available phosphorus before and after incubation at intervals of 0,14,28 and 56 days. The results showed that incubation and the different loading of organic wastes led to marked reduction in the organic matter and total nitrogen contents and significant increase in available phosphorus of organic wastes but had little effect on the ratio of carbon to total nitrogen. An ANOY A showed significant difference (p < 0.05) between the organic matter, total nitrogen content and available phosphorus in organic materials at the beginning of the experiment (0-day) and at the end of the experiment (56 days). There was a general decrease in pH with time of incubation and a slight decrease in pH was observed with increase in organic waste application due to the presence of fungi. The process of nitrification and incorporation of inorganic fertilizer increased the pH from 5.9-7.9. Organic wastes were found to be richer in total nitrogen than most soils. The increased levels of soil parameters after incubation imply that it is necessary to compost degradable wastes for use as organic fertilizer by farmers.
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