Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Impact of Cassava Processing Effluent on Agricultural Soil: A Case Study of Maize Growth
by Nwakaudu, M.S., Kamen, F.L., Afube, G., and Nwakaudu, A.A., Ike, I.S.

Abstract:
The physio-chemical changes resulting from the discharge of the effluent from cassava processing plants on three agricultural soil samples from Ihiagwa, Arochukwu and Ogbunabali; in Imo, Abia and River states of Nigeria were studied. The parameters investigated were percentage moisture content, pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Sulphates in the contaminated soil. Others were the metallic cations of zinc, copper, lead, sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium. All the afore-mentioned parameters were also analyzed for the uncontaminated soil samples from each site as control. The result shows that while there was a decrease in the soil pH (increased acidity), nitrogen and sulphate; the moisture content, phosphorous and the metallic cations increased in all the three contaminated soil samples. The effect on plant growth was studied using maize seedlings. The results after fourteen days showed that the growth of the seedlings on the three soil samples contaminated with cassava processing effluent was greatly stunted. This research shows that there is appreciable level of soil contamination arising from the discharge of cassava processing effluents on agricultural soil hence the need for proper treatment before discharge.

Keywords: cassava effluent, agricultural soil, soil analysis, soil contamination, maize growth.

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