Cabbage and Maize from Faecal Matter Products
Building on the preliminary results in which the first set of experiments conducted in July/December 2015 tested Struvite (a slow release fertilizer made from pure human urine) on field crops (maize), horticulture crops (cabbage) and soils (Irish potatoes), Nakuru County Sanitation Programme (NCSP) embarked to conduct large field experiments in 2016 outside Egerton University a partnership realized through an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The fields are located at Egerton University, Njoro Campus, test field, in which Cabbage and Maize experiments were set up, also, farms in Lanet and Bahati were identified as suitable place for setting experiments for Maize. In addition, at NAWASSCOs Treatment Plant the potato experiment was set up. These experiments have applied a number of treatments (struvite, vermi-compost, biochar, dried sludge, DAP, TSP and control plots,) to assess and test the effects of these treatments made from faecal matter on the crops as well as different types of soils.
Using the general crop management techniques, cabbage, potato and maize planting was done at the beginning of March, 2016, in which harvest for cabbage was done end of June, 2016. The second season is expected to overlap the first season, in which the harvest is expected to mature by September, 2016. Currently, data collection and analysis is ongoing which involves collection of data on; growth parameters which include-plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index, quality parameters- leaf chlorophyll content, presence of contamination, shelf life and yield parameters- head diameter and weight as well as analysis on soil and tissue. All analysis of soil samples is done before and after harvesting season to compare nutrient levels, pH, and heavy metals through the growth process.
A number of demonstrations activities have been held for both bio fuels and bio fertilizers with the goal to showcase and increase the awareness of the reuses of human faecal matter to a wider audience. The project has seen both public and private officials visit the research experiments and valuable feedback has been given.
