CHANGES IN ORGANIC CARBON FRACTIONS AND MICROAGGREGATION ON A SOIL TREATED WITH RICE HUSK COMPOST PREPARED USING CATTLE URINE AND WATER AS SOURCES OF MOISTURE

Soil organic matter is the decomposed and partially decomposed remains of plants and animals in the soil and this help in nutrient recycling. This work evaluated the effect of compost types on various organic carbon fractions and microaggregation. Soil samples collected at 0-20 cm depth were analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), free particulate organic carbon (fPoC), occluded particulate organic carbon (oPOC), acid-hydrolzable organic carbon (AHOC) and non-acid hydrolysable organic carbon (NHOC). Results show that TOC was highest (1.59%) in plots amended with compost from rice-husk and poultry made with cattle urine applied at 6t/ha and 9t/ha (1.43%). This trend was observed with other organic carbon fractions. Soil microaggregation was highest with application of the rice-husk composted with poultry manure and cattle urine applied at 9t/ha.