University of Nigeria
Virtual Library
Serial No
Author 1
MBA, Caroline c.
Author 2
Author 3
Title
Humus Production from Cassava (Manihot
Esculenta) Peels by Eudrilus Eugeniae
(Terrestrial Oligochete)
Keywords
Description
Category
Publisher
Publication Date
Signature
Humus Production from Cassava (Manihot
Esculenta) Peels by Eudrilus Eugeniae
(Terrestrial Oligochete)
Agriculture
.Der Tro9enlandr;irt; Zeixchrift fur die Landwirtschaft in den Troaen und Subtropen
82..Jahrgang, Okt~Se:1981, S. 143-148
Humus Production from Cassava
(Manihot esculenta) Peels by Eudrilus
eugeniae (terrestrial oligochete)
Humusproduktion sus Cassavaschalen (Manihot esculenta) durch den Erdwurm
Eudrilus eugeniae
By Caroline C. Mba*
1. Introduction
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) peels are being increasingly produced in Nigeria (Table
1) cassava being the staple food in South Nigeria. With population increase peel production will escalate. Cassava peel is rich i n plant nutrients but also in cyanide
(264 mg/kg dry matter of the tuber), a toxin of the respiratory system of aerobic
organisms. The peels constitute 16% of the tuber and are carelessly dumped on
fertile farmland in the homestead after cassava processing. I t could take over a
year for I
O heap
~ of the peels placed on 10 mZ to decompose. In 1977 Nigeria
produced 14 x lo6 tonnes of cassava equivalent t o 2.24 x l o 6 of peel on 630,063
hectares farmiand.
*A
Table 1. Cassava Production in Nigeria 1968-1 977
Year
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
Total Prod.
11000 MT.)
181 28
11867
11410
2396
2700
.
1973
1974
1976
1977
3000
3600
3900
14000
-
Source: Indices of Agricultural Production in Africa and the Neat East, 1968-1977. United
States Department of Agricultuia, Economics Statistics and Cooperatives Service. Statistical
Bulletin No. 610 ( 1 )
Compost pits in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka constitute a favourable biotope
to various earthworm species. 4 total abse~ceof earthworms i n the pit was noted in
. the beginning of the rains following the introduction of cassava peels among other
harvest residues..On examination, it was found that the exudate from the peels is
highly toxic t g soil fauna such ss earthworms, crickets, :::&is, nematodes, collembola, many composters and detritivorous species. The importance of these organisms
Dr. Caroline C. Mba. Lecturrr. Dept. of Soil Science, University of Niger~a,NsukkalN~geria
'
in soii fertility cannot be overstressed. Elimination of these organisms in Nigerian
soils would precipitate "Desenification" which is already threatening from the
North of Nigeria.
The aim o f the presenr study is to attempt a biological approach to manzging the
cassava peels, that is, to detoxify and utilize the cassava peels i n soil mangement.
2. Materials and Methods
Air dried cassava peel was used for the preliminary study. After a series of trials
involving the inr;.odhion o f aerobically and anaerobically treated cassava peels
into cultures of Gmelina fruits with soil from the University of Nigeria farm, a biovariant of an earthworm species (Eudrilus eugenia) which could feed on and detoxify
the cassava peel was isolated. Six surviving isolate earthworms were introduced in
5 plastic pots (20 cm diameter by 10 cm depth), containing 100 g air dried cassava
peels moistened to field capacity. The pots were watered on alternating days to
maintain the initial water content. The earthworms were hand-sorted and weighed
singly monthly, and replaced in the culture pots. The culture was maintained for
three months. The compost resulting from the earthworm dejections, a black colloidal matter and a humified organic matter was collected at the end of the incubation period.
The bioproduct was tested biologically with soil organisms and other eatthworm
species. The chemical and physical properties of the air dried cassava peel and the.
bioproduct were analysed and compared. Total carbon was analysed using the
Walkley and Black method (4); P, K, Ca, Na, Mg and CEC by the Jackson method
(3).Total N was determined by the Kjeldahl method.
3. Results and Discussions
Table 2 summarises the features and the growth characteristics of the earthworm.
The physical and chemical pro~eniesof the peels and the earthworm Sioproducts
are presented on Tables 3 and 4.
The bioproduct besides its favourable chemical and ohysical properties 3iso proved
a very safe and homely biotope for gther
~ ~ ~ ~ i '7.
s m l ;
The isolate earthworm grew normally c?n the cassava peels. Cocoon production and
young earthworms w e r e e d v i t h i n the first month of innocularion Tne cocoons
were translucid, light brown in colour and resemble the cocoons of normal Eudrilus
eugeniae, being however, much smoother and more rounded. Six individual worms
were able t o transform 100 g of the peel within a month.
The bio~roductis a dark coloured colloidal organic rr.i~:ter possessing 5igh shrinkage and svreI1;np capxity. Both the ivater holding capa:ity and the &p~~+~!pC
: vma high. Tne water holding capacity at saturaticn and a t pF 2 was 034% and
50°6:dry matter, respectively.
J
An inspection of Table 2 sho:vs t5at the worms had thoroughly h u n h 5 & ~ the
peel. The reduction of CIN and C ' P ratios of t i i e orlginiil peei is n o t e v m d y . Total
-2
nitrogen content doubled while K increased by 30%. The pH in water and CaCI,
solution showed that the colloid has a net negative charge. The high CEC and the
base saturstion about 10 x those o f our soil indicate that the bioproduct could
effectively be used to im9rove the soil cation exchange capacity. and buffering
capacity.
The water and air regime o i the bioproduct i s ideal. Total porosity value of 9206
confirmed the high water retention and water holding capacity. Most of our soils
despite- the favourable rainfall distribution often fail to support the crops because
of too low retention capacity.
I-
Table 2. Chemical Properties o f the Air D r i e d Cassava'.Peeland the Peel Bioproduct
Total N06
Gtound
Cassava Peel
(Manihot esculental 0.96
Bioproduct
1.98
Sd
-0.0 1
C%
C;N
39.0
27.0
~0.3
40.6
13.6
P%
CiP
K%
Ca%
Mg?&
0.19
0.14
tO.01
205
171
1.1
1.8
t0.1
1.20
1.20
tO.O
rO.l
Table 3. G r o w t h Characteristics and the Features o f Eudrilus eugeniae o n Cassava Peel Culture
We~$-trof Individual Earrhworrns l g l
Dates
Sd
N o . young
worrns!por
-
3 1 -3.80
0.55
20.25
0
30.4-80
1.60
r0.31
26-5-80
1.62
~0.34
24-6-80
1.40
20.28
2
51
128
-
O f Young w o r m at hatching
3.8 mS
Sa
~0.9
(Mean weigh11
of cocoon
1 2.9 m g
23.5
Sd
Table 4. Physical and chemical prooerties of cassava peel and cassava peel bioproduct
. Total
Bulk
Density
gkm'
Particle
Density
gicrn3
1.99
20.04
Sd
0.164
~0.001
-pH
CaCI,
H:O
0.01 N
7.4
~erjticn
Porosiry
at pf2
\Na:e: H o l d
Capacity
9d D r y Ma!ter
91.7
~0.2
21.4
-1.6
634 9
~5.9
-- -----
A
CZC:
Availaole
K
7..%
7.2
Potosity
C; V o .
a1.o
r3.70
32.2
1
co g
Sase Sa:.ir+
tion %
w~rg
Ca
Na
12.1
-0.1
20.3
0.63
\
'
s
',
'
'
80.29
rO 71
'
147
4. Conclusion
This preliminary study indicates that cassava peel could constitute a very useful
material i n the management o f the tropical soil fertility, soil water and air regime,
exchange capacity and soil biology. It would be highly appreciated if facilities'could
be made available to expand and develop the study. I t is necessary to include examination of various plant growth characteristics on soils amended with the bioproduct and above all to purs&igourously the nudy of the biology and the biochemistry of cassava peel bioproducts.
5. Summary
A biovariant of Eudrilus eugeniae, Nigerian Oligochete which can feed on and
detoxify cassava peel was isolated. The compost resulting from the earthworm dejections possesses very high water holding capacity, high K content, high CEC, low
C/N and C/P ratio relative t o the original cassava peels.
Normal earthworms could thrive well i n the cassava peel - Eudrilus eugeniae composr. Agronomical property of the compost was discussed.
Zusarnmenfassung
Der nigerianische Oligochet, ein Biovariant von Eudrilus eugeniae wurde isoliert.
Dieser ist fahig die Cassavaschalen, wovon er sich ernahrt, zu entgiften.
Der aus seinen Ausscheidungen bestehende Kompost besitzt im Vergleich zu dem
Ausgangsmaterial (Cassavaschalen) eine sehr hohe Wasserhaltekapazitat, einen hohen K-Gehalt, einen hohen CEC und ein niedriges C/N- und C/P-Verhaltnis.
Gewohnliche Erdwiirmer konnten in diesem Eudrilus-eugenieae-CassavaschalenKompost gut gedeihen.
Erortert wurden auch die ackerbaulichen Eigenschaften des Komposts.
Acknowledgement
The author expresses her greri?ude t c Mr. T.O. Eshett and co-workers for the laboratory analyses 2nd to Mr. 6.Umeh for the, green house procedures.
References
1. Anonym. 1978: Indices of Agricultural Produc:ion in Africa and the Near East, 1968-1977.
United Ste:es Department of Agriculture, Ecmomics. Statistics and Cooperatives Services,
Siattstical Bu!lerin N o . 610
-
I
,
2. G O P A L , T.K.S.: S A D A S I R A M , R . , 1 9 7 3 . A note on the variability of Cyanogenic glucoside
Souih lndien Horticonren: o! s s . a v a :uber var. Malavelia a: different stagesof maturity.
culture 21 131, i l - 1 1 2
-
3. JACKSON. M L.. 1952: Soil Chemical Analysis.
New Jerssv
4
WALKLEV. A
37.29-38
BLACK. C A
. i 934
- Pren1ir.e Hall,
Inc., Englewcocs C l ~ f f s .
D e t e r m ~ n a t ~ oofn organlc carbon In s c ~ ! - S c ~ lSc
Der Tropenlandwirt; Zeitschrift fur die Landwirtschaft i n den Tropen und Subtropen
82. Jahrgang, Oktober 1981,;S~149-152
\'
<
, ,
Infectivity of three Meloidogyne spp ons
soybean in Nigeria : ,
lnfektiositat der Sojabohne gegenijber drei Meloidogyne Spezies in Nigeria
By R.O. Ogbuji'
1. Introduction
Annual world production of soybean (Glycine max) is approximately 63 million
tonnes, mostly from areas nonh of latitude 30 O N which have temperate climates.
America is the leading producer, with 43'million tonnes annually (Cobley, 1976).
Soybeans are unpalatable to most people not accustomed t o eating them, and who
have traditionally eaten other grain legumes. The seeds have the largest protein
content of all cultivated legumes; some cultivars contain as much as 50%, and the
protein has a high nutritive value, especially after heating to inactivate antimetabolities (Cobley, 1976).
The current distribution of soybeans'in Nigeria indicate that Benue State is the
most important soybean producing area (Ezedinma, 1965; Philips, 1964). Soybean
cultivation has spread into adjoining states of Plateau, Niger, Kwara, Cross River
(Ogoja area) and Anambra (Abakaliki area). Nigeria exported 15,86G tonnes in
1963 (Ezedinma, 1965). In Nigeria, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is engaged in soybean improvement programmes with emphasis on
screening cultivars posessing good seed quality; development of new cultivars with
high grain yield and good seed quality. and disease resistance (IITA. 1975). The objective of this trial was to study the infec~ivitgof Meloidogyne sp? on three improved soybean cultivars.
2. Materials and Methods
Populations of Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and V . arenaria !.rere culture.'
seprxely in a s3ade-house on tomatc (Lycopersicon esculenturn cv. 9onny Best)
for six weeis at an average recorded temperature of 28.8C (aayi. Galled tomaro
.'
5 r . R.O. Ogbuji, C r o p Science D e p a r t m e n t , University of N i g e r ~ a ,N s u i i a , \ j ~ g e r ~ a .
! ? e x e ? c e 5Cp Gdi-n S!reei, t i n i v e r s ~ r yo f Nioeria. Nsukka