PLANTAIN HUSK

The continuous increase in cement production has raised serious environmental concerns due to its high energy consumption and carbon emissions. At the same time, large quantities of agricultural and wood-processing wastes such as plantain husks and sawdust are generated daily and often disposed of indiscriminately, contributing to environmental pollution. This study investigates the potential use of Plantain Husk Ash (PHA) and Sawdust Ash (SDA) as partial replacements for Ordinary Portland Cement in concrete production as a means of promoting sustainable construction practices. Concrete was produced using a 1:2:4 mix ratio, with cement partially replaced by a blended combination of PHA and SDA in equal proportions at replacement levels of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% by weight of cement. The workability of the fresh concrete was evaluated using the slump test, while compressive and flexural strength tests were carried out after 7, 14, and 28 days of water curing in accordance with relevant British Standards (BS EN) specifications. The experimental results indicated that workability decreased progressively with increasing replacement levels due to the higher water absorption characteristics of the ashes. Similarly, compressive and flexural strengths reduced as the percentage of replacement increased. However, concrete mixes containing up to 10–15% replacement achieved satisfactory strength values suitable for non-structural applications and certain light structural uses. The study concludes that Plantain Husk Ash and Sawdust Ash can be effectively utilized as supplementary cementitious materials in concrete at controlled replacement levels. Their use not only reduces dependence on conventional cement but also provides an environmentally friendly method of managing agro-industrial waste, thereby contributing to sustainable and cost-effective concrete production.