PRESENTATION BY RCE MINNAON

THE USE OF USED DIAPERS (PAMPERS) AS SOIL CONDITIONER

BY ABDUL HUSAIN

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Introduction.The project is on the use of used baby nappies/diapers for agricultural / horticultural purposes. The use of water crystals in agriculture is not new, and is well documented. The recycling of used (cheap!) diapers for tree-planting and potted plants is practically unheard of.

Objective.This project, which is under the flagship of the RCE Minna is to show how used nappies (or diapers) can serve as soil conditioner, helping to save our environment and the people economically.

The idea is to utilize the water-absorbing crystals/powder found in diapers as water absorbents that can sustain plants and reduce water wastage. These water absorbent crystals are also called water crystals, super absorbent polymer, diaper polymer or polyacrylate).

Preliminary outcome .From preliminary work we conducted, we have seen that the efficiency of the nappies in retaining water for plant is very significant. In our opinion, this can go a long way in solving the ‘unsuccessful’ annual rituals of tree planting campaigns in the northern part of Nigeria that never survived the next dry season due to water shortage.

Plants Type

No. of Potted Plants Average Stem length (height) Of plant (cm)

Average Stem (mm) Thickness (Diameter)

Average No. Of leaves

Shades of Green

PP7Dx 13 45.35 0.084 7.62 All Green

BB7Dx 12 50.53 0.088 9.50 All Green

PP4Dx 12 45.05 0.063 8.83 All Green

BB4Dx 12 54.17 0.075 8.72 All Green

Start Date of the Experiment in the Observation field 22nd Feb. 2012

Plants Type

No. of Potted Plants

Average Stem length (height) Of plant (cm)

Average Stem (mm) Thickness (Diameter)

Average No. Of leaves

Shades of Green

PP7Dx 13 50.03 0.166 2.54 5G, 1B,7D

BB7Dx 09 51.61 0.084 0.06 1G,8D

PP4Dx 12 45.91 0.080 1.08 3G,1Y, 8D

BB4Dx 11 56.54 0.090 0.27 1G,10D

End Date of the Experiment in the Observation field 09 May, 2012

Plant Type No of potted plants

No of SurvivingPlants

Average heights ofSurviving plants (ft)

Average Stem Thickness (cm)

PP7Dx 13 6 15 2.61

BB7Dx 12 2 13 2.28

PP4Dx 11 0 0 0

BB4D 12 3 7.5 1.20

End date of the experiment at the Open field 08 Oct. 2013

Plants Type

First reading Second reading

Last reading

Av Stm ht in (cm)

Av thickness (mm))

Stem ht (cm)

Thickness (mm)

Stem ht (Ft)

Diam.(cm)

PP7Dx 45.35 0.084 50.03 0.166 15 2.61

BB7Dx 50.53 0.088 51.61 0.084 13 2.28PP4Dx 45.05 0.063 45.91 0.080 0 0BB4Dx 54.17 0.075 56.54 0.090 7.5 1.20

Benefit of the research.Eliminates used diapers from the refuse binsProvide source of livelihood to youthEncourage the sorting of the wastes, which is a serious problem,Increase the survival rate of the trees planted there adding more tree stock to the environment

Unexpected but relevant outcome.It is important to mention that in the course of this work we stumbled on the possibility of polio spread through the improper disposal of used diapers.