Effects Of Household Waste (In Dumpsite) On Top Soil In Ikwuano Local Government Area Abia State.

ABSTRACT

In Nigeria, the menace of household waste has had a deteriorating effect on the availability of soil for agricultural production and also its arability. This project drew insights from famous works on effects of waste on soil in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. Eighteen soil samples (taken at different depths) were taken from Amawom, Umuokwu and Umugbalu dumpsites all in Ikwuano Local Government Area for physical and chemical characterization. Apart from the slight pH increase of the soil at dumpsites, most of the physical and chemical parameters of the soils at the dumpsites were not remarkably different from that of the control sites and are in range with the specifications from other related works. It was concluded that, from the results on characterization with use of suitable fertilizers, the soils both at dumpsites and control sites are arable.