3.4. Evaluation of the biofertilizer quality of final effluent
In order to assess the biofertilizer quality of the resulting
effluent, the effluent was applied at intervals of 2 weeks starting
from 2 weeks prior to planting through 8 weeks after planting to
a small maize farm cultivated for this research. A 10 m × 10 m plot
(of predominantly loamy soil) was partitioned into eight smaller
plots of 1 m × 1 m for the eight different treatments. Two seeds of
maize were planted in just one hole in each plot (Iken and Amusa,
2004) . A Nigerian late maturity Maize variety (TZESR-20) was used
for this study. Maize seeds were tested for viability before planting
in order not to utilize unhealthy seeds for the experiment. Effluent
used as biofertilizer for growing the maize plants was a mixture of
the effluents from the 12 week retention period of 1st, 2 nd and 3
rd inoculations. The eight different treatment regimes are: