ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Biotecnologica 2015 June;27(2):63-70

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Fractionation of phosphorus in human and animal wastes

Faridullah F. ¹, Khalid Z. ¹, Irshad M. ¹, Alam A. ², Ahmed T. ³, Bhatti Z. A. ¹

¹ Department of Environmental Sciences, CIIT, Abbottabad‑campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan; ² Department of Development Studies, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad‑campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan; ³ Centre for Climate Research and Development (CCRD), COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, Pakistan

AIM: Phosphorus is the prime compound that controls the growth and yield of the plants as well as the quality of the soil. Phosphorus is present in the form of phytate in seeds. Human excreta and animal manure are organic materials that are disposed off without treatment in open which poses a great threat of environmental pollution.
METHODS: Phosphorus forms of human excreta and cattle waste were determined and assessment of the feasibility of wastes to be used as fertilizers was done. Hedley modified sequential fractionation was used to determine the phosphorus content.
RESULTS: Out of total P present in human excreta 7.13 % is H2O-P, 12.6 %NaHCO3-Pi, 24.96% NaHCO3-Po, 2.47%NaOH-Pi, 16.84% NaOH-Po, 23.34% HCL-P, 15.56% Residual-P whereas in cattle manure 6.20% H2O-P, 8.65% NaHCO3-Pi, 24.55%NaHCO3-Po, 2.83% NaOH-Pi, 13.38% NaOH-Po,15.12% HCL-P,24.43%Residual is found. The amount of phosphorus in all the fractions have found to be like HCL>NaHCO3>H2O>NaOH.
CONCLUSION: On the basis of the result it was concluded that human excreta and cattle manure can fulfill the requirement of soil nutrition. Human excreta have high phosphorus content and are feasible to be used as a fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizer.