Soil quality around a solid waste dumpsite in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

The levels of soil parameters and selected heavy metals around a solid waste dumpsite receiving untreated wastes from all sources and a control site within Port Harcourt, Nigeria have been examined. Top soil (0-15 cm) and sediment samples were collected and analysed for pH value, particle size, total nitrogen, potassium, available phosphorus, organic matter, effective cation exchange capacity, cadmium, nickel and lead using standard methods. The results showed that the waste dump contributed to the high levels of nutrients and heavy metals. The dry season mean concentrations were: organic matter (5.28 ± 1.34% or 132,422.4 kg ha )1 ), K (1.60 ± 0.52 meq per 100 g), N (0.09 ± 0.06% or 2257.2 kg ha )1 ), Av.P (15.11 ± 7.57 lg g )1 ), Cd (1.34 ± 0.72 lg g )1 ), Ni (4.10 ± 1.63 lg g )1 ) and Pb (38.85 ± 22.18 lg g )1 ) while the wet season mean concentrations were organic matter (5.46 ± 1.39% or 136,936.8 kg ha )1 ), K (2.79 ± 0.81 meq per 100 g), N (0.10 ± 0.05% or 2508 kg ha )1 ), Av.P (9.22 ± 2.69 lg g )1 ), Cd (1.72 ± 1.22 lg g )1 ), Ni (14.95 ± 14.94 lg g )1 ) and Pb (53.50 ± 40.09 lg g )1 ). There was efficient mineralization process in the area. The texture of soil on the main dumpsite was loamy sand, which suggests that the ground water in the area is susceptible to contamination by surface pollutants. The texture of soil at the control site is sandy loam while sediment has the textural class of sand. Decomposed organic materials and agricultural activities influenced the texture of soils. The soils from the main dump and sediment were slightly alkaline while the control soil was moderately acidic. In both seasons, a significant variation exists (P < 0.05) between the metal concentrations in soil at the main dump and those in the sediments with a positive correlation (r ¼ 0.572149) in the wet season and (r ¼ 0.956647) in the dry season. The presence of liming materials and activities of microorgan-isms on the waste dump increased the pH of the soils. The accumulation of nutrients results in the luxuriant growth of plants/crops on the waste dump.

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite in Harar City, Harari Regional State, Ethiopia

“…This is in agreement with the results obtained from similar studied by [13]. [35], also reported higher levels of some heavy metals in soils around designated municipal solid waste dump site compared to the control site within Port Harcourt and its environment. As showed in (Table 2), the recorded results of accumulated heavy metals in soil showed that zinc, manganese, iron and lead has the higher value at both dumping sites relative to other heavy metals.…”

Physicochemical Characteristics of Soil from Selected Solid Waste Dump Sites in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

“…It was observed that the soil textural class of the dump sites studied was mostly loamy sandy except for the Iwofe dump site which was sandy soil. This has also been reported in similar study that decomposition of agricultural wastes influence the texture of the soil (Ideriah et al, 2006). The mean sand percentage in the study locations for wet and dry seasons.…”

“…The higher pH level in the dump sites than their controls has been reported to be as a result of liming materials and also the activities of some microorganism on the solid wastes (Ayade, 2003, Ideriah et al, 2006. Furthermore, pH has been reported as a simple and direct measure of the overall chemical condition of the soil and at pH 6.5, nutrients availability to plants from the soil is at its highest (Praveena and Rao, 2016).…”

Physicochemical Characteristics of Waterholes and Soil in a Wildlife Park: A Case Study of Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

“…The soils studied are not deficient in available phosphorus because the values were generally higher than 6.0 mg/kg (Defoer et al, 2000). This may be due to the availability of high amount of organic matter and plants decomposition (Ideriah et al, 2006) and leaching off of fertilizer nutrients from agricultural farms from the surrounding communities. The high levels of Ca and Mg in the soils could be attributed to the high base saturation and pH levels of the soils studied (Middha et al, 2015).…”