Volume 11, Issue 24, July - December 2025

Determination of Bio-fertilizer Quality (N, P, K, Mg and Ca) of Digestate of Laying Birds Droppings Co-digested with Broiler Droppings in a 50:50 Ratio

Hafsat OO^1♦, Ambeatrice K¹, Alfa IM², Okpanachi U¹

¹Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
²Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jos, Jos North LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the bio-fertilizer quality of digestate obtained from the anaerobic co-digestion of laying birds and broiler droppings in a 50:50 ratio. The study's objectives were to ascertain the bio-fertilizer quality (N, P, K, Mg, and Ca) of laying bird and broiler (50:50) droppings before anaerobic co-digestion of the substrate and evaluate the impact of the anaerobic co-digestion process on the biofertilizer quality of the digestate and substrate. The initial measurements of the substrate showed the following values: pH (6.9), temperature (29.03°C), nitrogen (0.28%), phosphorus (2.01%), potassium (2.58%), magnesium (0.68%), and calcium (3.01%). After the anaerobic co-digestion, significant changes were noticed. The result showed that the pH increased by 4.3% to 7.2, while the temperature rose by 10.9% to 32.20°C. Nitrogen concentration was reduced significantly by 70.0% to 0.09%, whereas phosphorus declined by 32.8% to 1.35%. The potassium content was reduced by 23.6% to 1.97%, magnesium by 11.8% to 0.60%, and calcium by 7.0% to 2.8%. The result indicated substantial differences (p ≤ 0.05) between the substrate and digestate for temperature, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, although pH, magnesium, and calcium variations were not statistically significant. Regardless of these reductions, the digestate retains substantial nutrient concentrations, affirming its value as a bio-fertilizer and using digested poultry droppings as bio-fertilizers can augment soil fertility and improve sustainable agricultural practices.

Keywords: Bio-fertilizer, Substrate, Digestate, Anaerobic Co-digestion, Poultry Droppings.

Discovery Agriculture, 2025, 11, e9da3123

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Published: 18 July 2025