Abstract
Accepted 23rd March. 2021.
This paper assessed the role of bio-based fertilizers in promoting organic farming in Northwestern Nigeria Agriculture is the main source of soil degradation processes. Therefore, soil improvement is an important task. The possibilities for using composted either municipal waste or residues from biogas production for soil improvement is inevitable. The advantages and disadvantages should be analyzed and discussed. The composition, production techniques, usefulness and constraints of bio-based fertilizers were analyzed. At present these options are not yet feasible in the North because of the high prices of anaerobic digestion plant and the insufficient quantities of plant residues and animal manure. Advantages of waste processing are multiple as it produces compost of organic origin and can be used as a soil improver to recover nutrients and improve structure. The findings showed that Organic fertilizers increases the growth, yield and quality of crops as well as soil properties through extension education. Production and use of organic based fertilizers help to convert wastes which would otherwise become a nuisance to the environment to environmentally friendly and agriculturally useful materials. The use of extension workers to enlighten farmers on how best to handle organic based fertilizers contributes immensely in improving crop production in tropical environment. The research work was done using different materials such as neem seeds, calcium carbonate, bone mill, blood mill, rice husk and potash. The production of the fertilizer was done by mixing the materials and taken to the hammer mill for milling. Finally, the milled fertilizer was taken to the granulator for granulation and later dried off and packaged. The chemical analysis of the finished product was carried out by different methods; Nitrogen (N) was analyzed by kjelahl method, Phosphorus (P) by brary & kurtz no.1 method, potassium (k) flame photometric method and organic carbon (c) by walkeley-black method. The result of the analysis showed that Nitrogen (N) 0.672%, Phosphorous (P) 5.17 mg/kg, Potassium (K)
11.50 mg/kg, and Organic Carbon (C) 3.890.
Keywords: Assessment, Role, organic farming, Bio-Based Fertilizer, Northwest Nigeria.