Effect of irrigation using water from fish ponds on plant growth in northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The irrational consumption of water is one of the greatest problem in the world today. Irrigation of agricultural crops with fish effluent is one way to solve this problem. Rather than disposing of effluents gotten from aquaculture; then providing nutrients from fertilizer and irrigation from another source of water. We could use water containing fish effluent to irrigate agricultural crop. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of irrigating with water from fish ponds on plant growth in test plots in Yola, northeastern Nigeria. A field experiment was carried out in Yola Adamawa state at American University of Nigeria. The experiment involved a farm which was divided into the plots and 50 plant were present on each plot. Each plot were irrigated differently. After the germination of the crops the stem growth of the plants were measured. The data acquired was analyzed using ANOVA which gave a p-value 0.1 indicating that the result was statistically not significant. Although, there was no statistical significance the result was ecologically significant, because at the end of the study plants were taller on the fish water plot than any other plot. This finding is very import to farmer who find it hard to acquire fertilizer due to cost. It is also important because this type of irrigation is organic, environmentally friendly and a sustainable type of farming.