Physicochemical Characteristics of Soil from Selected Solid Waste Dump Sites in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study examined the nutrient status and textural characteristics of soil from solid waste dumpsites in the city of Port Harcourt. The study was carried out in five solid waste dump sites alongside their respective controls located at Iwofe, Eliozu, Choba, Rumuokwuta and Ozuoba within the city of Port Harcourt for two seasons (wet and dry). A systematic sampling technique was employed for field sampling. Soil sample was collected with soil auger and analysis was done using standard methods. Results showed mean pH value (4.86±0.18 – 7.66±0.44) and; cation exchange capacity (2.2±0.3 -18.11±0.8 meq/100g). The mean electrical conductivity indicated higher conductivity in the control sites (125±5.5 - 492±16 μs/cm) than the dump sites (32.06±2.5 – 299.5±1.5μs/cm).There was high nutrient concentrations in the dump site soils of total nitrogen (0.04±0.01 – 0.62±0.13%); phosphorus (0.041±0.01 – 4.07±0.02mg/kg); potassium (9.19±2.5 – 326±51.91mg/kg) than the controls. On the contrary, there was no significant difference between the soil particle size distribution of the dump site soil and their respective controls. The soil particle size distribution indicated an average of 83% sand, 11% clay and 5% silt, while the soil texture was loamy sandy for all the dump sites except the dump site located at Iwofe. Therefore, solid dumps alter the soil nutrient contents with no significant change in the textural nature of soil.