ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine the effect of municipal waste disposal on some selected soil physical and chemical properties, heavy metals and micronutrient contents of the soil found in solid waste disposal areas in Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from three dumpsites and control sites in close proximity to the dumpsites at depths of 0 – 20cm, 20 – 40cm and 40 – 60cm. core samples were also collected for determination of some selected soil physical properties at both the dumpsites and control. Some heavy metal and micronutrients were determined on the soil samples. The results revealed that the analyzed physical properties (sand, clay and total porosity) were higher in the dumpsite than control site while bulk density was higher in the control site than in the dumpsite. Sand, silt and clay distribution between soil depths of 0 – 20cm, 20 – 40cm and 40 – 60cm were similar in the dumpsite and control except for clay content in the control site that increased with depth. The analyzed soil chemical properties (total exchangeable bases, organic carbon, organic matter, effective cation exchange capacity and base saturation) were higher in dumpsite than control but exchangeable acidity was higher in control site than dumpsite. They were all similar in the distribution both in the dumpsite and control site. The soil nutrients that were analyzed (nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese) were all higher in the dumpsite than in the control site with exception of phosphorus that had a reversed case. There was no meaningful variation in depths of the soil nutrient contents. The heavy metal contents (Lead, Cadmium, Chromium and Nickel) were all higher in the dumpsite than in the control site but there was no variation in their distribution by depths both in the dumpsite and control site. From this study, it was observed that dumping of municipal solid waste can influence soil properties, heavy metals and micronutrients.