Physicochemical Properties of Soils from Dumpsite in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

Aim: To assess the physiochemical properties of Dumpsites soils from Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO).

Study Design: This was a simple randomized sampling study technique.

Methodology: Soil samples were obtained from three different dumpsites located within the school namely Girls’ hostel dumpsite, Ihiagwa dumpsite and Eziobodo dumpsite. The soil's physicochemical characteristics were ascertained by air drying it and then sieving it through a 2 mm sieve. The Bouyoucos hydrometer method was used to determine the soil's texture. A pH meter was used to measure the pH of a 1:2.5 soil-water suspension, and a conductivity meter was used to measure the extract electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon using the wet digestion method of Walkley and Black. Available phosphorus by Bray and Kurtz method; total nitrogen by micro Kjeldahl procedure, as explained by Horneck and Miller (20). Following extraction with ammonium acetate, exchangeable bases were identified. Potassium (K) was measured using a flamephotometer, while calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were assessed using the EDTA titration method.

Results: Results obtained from the study, revealed that values between waste dumpsite and control site were significantly different. Findings showed that the pH value in sampled soils from studied dumpsites ranged from 6.38±0.10 and 7.11±0.10 while the mean pH value for controlled site was 3.98±0.08. Data obtained show that the values of pH; Cation Exchange Capacity (cmol+kgG1); Calcium (mEq/ 100 g);4.50; 4.24; 4.76, Potassium (mEq/ 100 g) 0.59; 0.48; 0.79 and Nitrogen (mEq/ 100 g) were. 0.98; 1.84; 0.73 respectively among the sampled dumpsites. Furthermore; Results showed that there was an increase in the pH, potassium, nitrogen content value at each dumpsite than their corresponding control. The mean soil porosity indicated higher porosity in the control sites. The soil particle size distribution indicated that the control site is sandier than the various dumpsites and the dumpsites on the other hand had more slit and clay component than the control site.

Conclusion: According to the study, trash from the dumpsite under investigation may have an impact on the distribution of grain sizes or the soils beneath them. It also showed a significant contribution to elevated pH, EC, OC, OM, Av. P, ON, basic cations, and CEC values. The soil at the study site has a higher proportion of sand fraction and a lower percentage of clay fraction, as evidenced by the relative increase in the pollutant leaching potentials of municipal solid waste.