Abstract:
Utilization of chemical fertilizer have significant adverse effect on soil ecosystem as well as to human health. Now a day, to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers, a number of organic waste material and by products are currently being used as fertilizer as well as soil conditioner. Hair, a potential human waste, contains high amount nitrogen and other elements. Which, could be used as nutrient source for crops production. The purpose of this study was to utilize waste human hair as liquid organic fertilizers on lettuce plant. Elemental composition of waste human hair was analyzed using CHNS/O elemental analyzer. Solubility of different mas of hair (5, 7.5,10 g) investigated in different concentration of KOH solutions (2.5, 5, 7.5 (W/V) %) at different temperature (100,115,130 oC). Hydrolysate hair was characterized by FTIR. Control, hydrolysate hair fertilizer (100,150 and 200 kgha-1) and urea 200 kgha-1 nitrogen rate applied on lettuce. Hair sample contains 12.01% nitrogen, 36.23% carbon, 5.33% hydrogen 3.3 % sulfur. Duration of solubility 85, 40 and 29 minutes was registered in 2.5 %, 5 % and 7.5 % of KOH solution respectively. 65 to 51 and 45 minutes also registered at 100, 115 and 130oC respectively. Hydrolysate hair contained carboxylic acid and amine group. For physical analysis the yield fresh weight [67.4, 86.7, 84, 31.2 and 10 g], dry weight [5.7, 7.1, 7.0, 2.5 and 0.8 g], number of leaves [20, 22.3, 21, 14.3 and 9.0] and leaves area [180, 196.8, 221.3, 109.8 and 53.0 cm2] of hydrolysate hair fertilizer (100,150 and 200 kgha-1N), urea (200 kgha-1N) and control treated lettuce were registered respectively. The hydrolysate hair fertilizer treated lettuce yield was better in all nitrogen rate than urea fertilizer and control treated lettuce.