Assessment of Physicochemical Properties of Soil at Old Nekede Dumpsite Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Developing countries with inadequate waste disposal system unit or regulatory process is at risk of metal land. The aim of the study is to access the suitability of soils around old Nekede road in Owerri West L.G.A of Imo State in Nigeria. After the removal of the overlying waste soil samples were collected from five (5) different control points of open waste landfills (deposit point, North point, south point, east point and west point), 100m away from each other and at a depth of three different depths (0-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 m) on an open waste landfill using a Dutch soil auger. The physicochemical parameters of the soil were determined using standard laboratory methods, while, the diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) extraction method was used for Fe and Zn. The results were evaluated by ANOVA. Iron and zinc concentrations in deposit point with the depth of 0-15 cm,15-30 cm, 30-45 cm, ranged from 202.85 mg kg-1, 164.47 mg kg-1, and 131.33 mg kg-1. Hence, it falls within the permissible range from 2760.1 to 2833.07 mg 100g-1; while, Zinc ranged from 147.5 mg kg-1, 67.22 mg kg-1, 26.13 mg kg-1, and falls within the permissible limits of 300 mg kg-1. The concentration of heavy metals on under review was moderate and falls under the permissible standard during the time of this study. It will be suggested that the land can adequately produce with or without additional treatment. Crops such as cassava, plantain and banana can be encouraged in such areas.