Environmental impact of waste disposal sites on physicochemical properties of soil in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This current study evaluates the effect of waste disposal sites on soil physicochemical qualities in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria. A total of 216 soil samples were taken in 2020, 2021 and 2022 from soil depth (0–20 cm, 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm) using standard analytical methods. In addition, seasonal (wet and dry) effects were also considered. Data sets were analysed using Fisher’s Significance Least Difference (F-LSD) at 0.05 probability level. The study showed that at 0–20 cm soil depth profile, bulk density in the study period significantly (p < 0.05) decreased by 48, 38, and 41%, and by 14, 9, and 12% in the wet and dry periods at the study sites relative to the controls. Similar results were obtained at 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm soil depth profiles. Consequently, there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the values of other studied soil physical parameters in both periods relative to the controls. Across the three soil depth profiles, hydraulic conductivity values ranged from 12.25 to 95.89 ± 5.63 cm/hr (a CV of 12%) and 8.73 to 122.23 ± 5.80 (a CV of 10%); 10.15 to 91.66 ± 4.03 (a CV of 22%) and 18.41 to 64.48 ± 4.21 (a CV of 21%); and 1.55 to 155.33 ± 6.71 (a CV of 14%) and 10.66 to 134.10 ± 6.23 (a CV of 11%) in wet and dry periods at Enugu, respectively. Based on these new findings, it is concluded that waste disposal sites had a positive effect on the fertility of the soil.