Physicochemical Properties of Technosols in Dumpsites of Enugu Urban Southeastern, Nigeria

Abstract

Background and Objective: Human activities have produced artificial soils with pedogenesis dominated by their technological origin.This study compared Technosolsʼ physicochemical qualities at Eke Market Dumpsite, Agbani (6E18'24"N, 7E32'52"E) and Abakpa Bridge Head Dump Site (6E28'34"N, 7E31'02"E) in Enugu Southeast, Nigeria to characterize and compare differences in some of their physicochemical properties.Materials and Methods: Profile pits were dug within the dumpsite of the selected areas and corresponding control pits for both sites were dug 100 m away.Samples were collected from the depth of the observable horizon in each profile.The coefficient of variation was used to analyze the data collected.Results: The dumpsites and non-dumpsites of two sandy loam-sandy clay loam sites have similar particle size distributions.The pH (H 2 O) was slightly alkaline at dumpsites (7.4-7.6)compared to 5.6-6.3 for non-dumpsites.Soil organic carbon in the top 0-50 cm of the dump soil (1.49-4.6%)was 91-96% greater than in the same horizon of the non-dump soil (0.07-0.39%) for both sites, although topsoil OC varied greatly.The dump site has 32% higher total nitrogen in the top 100 cm of soil than the non-dump site (0.13-0.25%).The CEC values of 16.0-24.4cmol kgG 1 were greater in dumpsite soils than in non-dump site soils (12.4-14.8cmol kgG 1 ).Base saturation in the vadose zone of dumpsite soils ranged from 27.6 to 46.8%, compared to 10.9-22.8% in non-dump soils at both sites.Conclusion: The vadose zone of dump site soils has greater exchangeable cation levels than non-dump sites.Technosols alleviate land degradation and green challenges.The soil quality assessment helps track Technosol changes and evaluate pedogenetic processes.Under tropical conditions, municipal waste Technosols may have a beneficial effect on agricultural soil quality.