Biochemical Impact of Sludge Obtained from Wastewater Treatment Plant on Soil Properties within Port Harcourt Environment

Abstract

A study on the biochemical impact of sludge obtained from wastewater treatment plant on soil properties within Port- Harcourt environment were investigated. Parameters such as; pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), total organic matter (TOM), total organic carbon (TOC), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) were assessed in the different soil samples using standard methods, to know the impact of the applied sludge on the biochemical properties of soil. The result showed a significant increase in N, P, K and TOM levels for the test soil (2.37 mg/kg, 32.89 mg/kg, 32.15 mg/kg, and 3.12 mg/kg) respectively over the control (0.93 mg/kg, 11.09 mg/kg, 36.35 mg/kg, and 2.14 mg/kg) respectively. Zn, Pb, Ni and TOC which are essential to plants and animals were also found to be significantly higher in the test soil (19.26 mg/kg, 5.71 mg/kg, 1.60 mg/kg, and 1.81 mg/kg) respectively over the control (8.62 mg/kg, 2.58 mg/kg, 0.52 mg/kg, and 1.24 mg/kg) respectively. The physicochemical, nutrient, and heavy metal parameters of the test soil samples were all significantly different (p<0.05) when compared to their controls. These results revealed that the natural organic fertilizer (sludge) obtained from wastewater treatment plant in Port-Harcourt with its low toxicity level enriched the impacted soil with essential biochemical nutrients such as N, P, K, and can be used in place of the very expensive artificial inorganic fertilizer with little cost and side effects for the enrichment of soil nutrient qualities.