Strategies for Enhancing Microbial Activities to Improve Vermicomposting for Increased Soil Fertility in Enugu Agricultural Zone

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• December 28, 2025
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Ugwuede, A. A.¹ & Aneke, C. U.²

^{1 2} Department of Technology and Vocational Education, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this study was to determine the strategies for enhancing microbial activities to improve vermicomposting for increased soil fertility in Enugu Agricultural Zone. Three research questions in line with the purposes guided the study. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population for the study was 52 respondents made up of 34 male extension workers and 18 female extension workers in Enugu Agricultural Zone. There was no sampling because the population was manageable. A 36-item structured questionnaire was used for the study. The instrument was structured using a four-point rating scale for data collection and was face-validated by three experts. Two   of the experts were from the Department of Technology and Vocational Education and one from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Education, all from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu. The internal consistency of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha method, and a reliability coefficient of 0.73 was obtained. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, and t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that all the items under environmental and farmers practices are the strategies for enhancing microbial activities to improve vermicomposting for increased soil fertility in Enugu agricultural zone. Also, all the items under benefits of improving microbial activities showed an overall mean score of 3.24 with a standard deviation of 0.61indicating that respondents agreed on the items. This showed that the items are benefits of improving microbial activities to enhance vermicomposting for increased soil fertility in Enugu agricultural z.one. Based on the findings, the following recommendations among others were made: farmers should make the soil environment conducive to enhance decomposition of organic matter for fast vermicomposting. Farmers should also adopt the identified practices to enhance vermicomposting.

Keywords: Strategies for Microbial Activities; Increased Soil Fertility; Enugu Agricultural Zone

Ugwuede, A. A. & Aneke, C. U. (2025). Strategies for Enhancing Microbial Activities to Improve Vermicomposting for Increased Soil Fertility in Enugu Agricultural Zone. American Journal of Applied Sciences and Engineering 6(4) 12-22.  https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18334748