ASSESSMENT OF BIODEGRADATION EFFECTS OF AGRO-WASTES (POULTRY DROPPINGS AND COW DUNG) ON SOME PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THEIR EFFLUENTS

Purpose: The biodegradation effects of agro-wastes (poultry droppings and cow dung) on some physico-chemical properties of the effluents were assessed. Methodology: Triplicate slurries (1:3 w/v) of five ratios of poultry droppings and cow dung: (0:1, 1:3, 1:1, 3:1 and 1:0 as treatments A, B, C, D and E) were separately fed into 13.6L locally constructed digesters, under strict anaerobic condition. They were kept for eight weeks retention period. Separate fractions of the undigested and digested treatments were subjected to standard assay procedures to determine their C, N, heavy contents, chemical oxygen demand (COD). The average weekly temperature and the pH before and after digestion of the media were measured. Findings: The cumulative biogas yield was in the order of treatment C (2961.0ml) >D(2241.7ml) > E(2197.9ml) > A(2079.0ml) > B(2031.1ml), based on the following mixing ratios  1:1>3:1>0:1>1:0>1:3. The gas production was affected by weekly temperature variation, which peaked at the mesophilic range (40.5±0.3 ̶ 44.1±0.3OC). The resultant pH of the digestates was in the order of 1:3 > 3:1 > 1:1 > 0:1 > 1:0. There was a general reduction in heavy metal contents for all treatment digestates, except Cu, with 200.00, 35.82 and 7.34% as %increases in treatments A, E and C respectively. All treatments indicated reduction in C:N ratios, ranging from 7.93 ̶ 13.02, in the order of 3:1>1:1>1:3>0:1>1:0. Similarly, there was decrease in COD contents for all treatments due to AD. Consequently, the percentage COD reduction (%CODR) was in the order of treatment D(53.70%) > E(34.15%) > C(29.63%) > A(25.81%) > B(19.23%). Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The biodegradation process had provided an effective means of alternative energy production, agricultural waste management initiative, which would ensure bioremediation, sustainable public health and environmental management