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Vertical and lateral movements of nitrate, phosphate and sulphate in soils around manure dumpsites and the potential environmental implications

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Abstract

Monitoring and quantification of nutrient movement in soils could help farmers and policy makers to formulate effective nutrient loss reduction strategies and waste management. The study was conducted to monitor and quantify vertical and lateral movements of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), phosphate (PO4) and sulphate-sulphur (SO4-S) in soils around manure dumpsites in Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria. The dumpsites investigated include a flush-type poultry litter, poultry litter mixed with beddings of wood shavings and cattle and pig waste open dumpsites. Soils were sampled at depths of 0–20, 20–40, 40–60 and 60–80 cm and at distances 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 m away from the dumpsites. Soil samples were analysed for some physical and chemical properties and NO3-N, PO4 and SO4-S contents. Results indicated that there were more nutrients in the soil around the poultry manure slurry dumpsite compared with others while the soil pH increased with increase in soil depth, across dump sites. There was evidence of leaching of salts, and this correlated positively with the soil organic matter content (r = 0.41, p < 0.01). The soils were polluted with NO3-N, PO4 and SO4-S as deep as 80-cm depth; these nutrient amounts were higher than the maximum allowable (40, 15 and 7 mg kg−1, respectively) for southwest Nigerian soils. Due to high soil organic matter and for agronomic considerations, the soils are only suitable for cultivation at depths below 40 cm and 8 m away from the dump sites. There was significant pollution of the soils with nitrate, phosphate and sulphate, within 80 m distance from the dump site. This has serious implications for ground water recharges and shallow well sunk around these areas. There is potential risk of NO3-N, PO4 and SO4-S consumption through such water sources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science and Land Management, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B, Abeokuta, 2240, Nigeria

    J. O. Azeez, G. O. Bankole & J. Omonigho

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  1. J. O. Azeez
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  2. G. O. Bankole
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  3. J. Omonigho
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Contributions

Jamiu Oladipupo Azeez conceived, planned and supervised the execution of the research. He also wrote the manuscript. Ganiyu Olawale Bankole supervised the field works and laboratory analyses. He also did the data analysis and proofread the manuscript drafts. Justice Omonigho did the implementation of the field works, laboratory analyses and data entry under the supervision of Azeez and Bankole.

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Correspondence to J. O. Azeez.

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Azeez, J.O., Bankole, G.O. & Omonigho, J. Vertical and lateral movements of nitrate, phosphate and sulphate in soils around manure dumpsites and the potential environmental implications. Environ Monit Assess 195, 907 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11520-2

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