Using Biodegradability of Sewage in Ordinary Pit Latrines to Assess their Agricultural Potentials
F.I. Ugwu1, J.C. Agunwamba2
1F.I. Ugwu, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
2J.C. Agunwamba, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Manuscript received on 14 April 2024 | Revised Manuscript received on 25 October 2024 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 November 2024 | Manuscript published on 30 November 2024 | PP: 11-20 | Volume-4 Issue-2 November 2024 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijae.A1502051121 | DOI: 10.54105/ijae.A1502.04021124
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© The Authors. Published by Lattice Science Publication (LSP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: This research investigated the use of biodegradability of sewage in ordinary pit latrines to assess the performance of such sewage for agricultural purposes. The objective of this paper therefore was to study the biodegradability of faeces in selected pit latrines that would lead to the assessment of the performance of such pits. Both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability of pit sludges were thus measured. Samples of fresh faecal sludges collected from pit latrines in selected households in Aku community were subjected to laboratory analyses for their physico-chemical and biological characteristics. The results showed that in terms of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), twelve (12) pits had biodegradability of 80% and above. In the case of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids (SS), nine (9) pits had biodegradability of 80% and above. For the volatile solids (VS), eleven (11) pits had biodegradability of 80% and above. Ten (10) pits had ratio of volatile solids to total solids (VS: TS) ranging from 0.90 – 2.93. Using COD: BOD ratio, eleven (11) pits had values ranging from 0.90 – 1.34 indicating that the pits sludges were readily biodegradable and good for agricultural purposes. Lower values showed lower organic contents and lower biodegradability and therefore unsuitable for agricultural purposes. High COD: BOD, VS:TS ratios should therefore be used to assess the performance of pit latrine sludges for higher agricultural productivity considering good user-behaviour, favourable soil and environmental conditions. Excreta collected from such pits should be used to enhance soil fertility.
Keywords: Aerobic and Anaerobic Biodegradability; Best Design Criteria; Pit Sludges; User-Behaviour; Favourable Conditions; Physico-Chemical and Biological Characteristics; Microbial Density; Agricultural Productivity.
Scope of the Article: Agricultural Biotechnology