Assessment of Soil Quality of Saje Dumpsite at Abeokuta, Nigeria

Abstract

Globally, the major environmental problem associated with dumpsite is soil pollution. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of dumpsite on nearby residential soil quality. Soil samples were collected from Saje dumpsite in Abeokuta, at different locations. The physical and chemical properties of the soil analysed were Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Particle Size, Organic Carbon (OC), Total Nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr and Zn using standard methods. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis and ANOVA at ?0.05. The dumpsite soils were moderately alkaline with pH values ranging from 7.95 to 8.53 and OC ranging from 2.0 to 122 g kg-1. The respective range of concentration (mgkg-1) for top and sub soils were: Zn (1150±230 to 2570±240 and 10900±190 to 6890±3090), Cu (159±12 to 322±130 and 139±98 to 237±67), Pb (87 ± 73 to 516 ± 210 and 105 ± 95 to 305 ± 16), Cr (13.9 ± 1.6 to 19.5 ± 1.5 and 10.4 ± 2.1 to 15.9 ± 3.9) and Cd (3.87±0.37 to 11.6±1.4 and 3.00±0.25 to 13.8±4.3 The parameters of soil higher than permissible limits of the WHO, EC and MAFF were in the order: Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd. This study revealed Zn as the highest measured metal in the soil with average concentrations. Lead (Pb) concentration decreased with increasing depth, while Cd showed the lowest values in all samples.