Journal Clean WAS (JCleanWAS)

The influence of fire on the physiochemical properties of grassland soils varies with soil texture. Understanding the nutrient fluxes associated with such fires at different soil depths is important for maintaining soil ecosystem functions and processes as well as grassland aesthetics. The study focused on the post-fire burnt and unburnt lawn at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Soils were sampled in triplicates at the two sites with the aim of evaluating their physiochemical properties at 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm depth. The results indicate that the unburnt soil was characterized by a sandy clay loam texture, good drainage, acidic, high soil organic matter content and low nutrient reserves. The post-fire burnt soil showed a significant decrease in silt (29%) content, and an increase in coarse sand (19%) content and saturated hydraulic conductivity (18%). Additionally, the burning increased soil C:N (51%) but reduced total N (18%) and soil acidity from 3.98 to 4.42 due to increased Ca2+ (38%) and the associated decrease in Al3+ (49%). The influence of grassland burning at the soil depths changed the sand, silt and clay content with a textural transformation to sandy loam at 0-15 cm depth. Soil available P decreased with soil depth, in addition to P addition (52%) at 0-15 cm depth. For reasons of climate change due to N loss from post-fire burnt soil, management of the grassland through burning should be avoided.

Innovation is one of the most fundamental processes that underpins the economic growth and serves as an economic basis for developing solutions to socio-economic and environmental challenges such as climate change. Climate change has become one of the most threatening natural processes in the world, with major impacts in the economic development, this can also provide opportunities for new ventures. The aim of this study was to assess the climate change variability status in the study area to maintain businesses’ continuity, inform policy making for climate change risks adaptation and mitigation and set an avenue for climate change innovations entrepreneurship in the study area. Two drought indicators, Standardised Precipitation (SPI) and Reconnaissance Drought Indices (RDI) were used in quantifying drought events computed from monthly precipitation, minimum temperature and maximum temperature. Three temporal scales, seasonal (3) and annual (12) were selected for analysis for trend patterns using a Mann Kendall’s test. The trend analysis showed neither decreasing nor increasing statistically significant trends in all the selected scales expect in spring (Aug-Oct). This condition could imply that businesses can play defensive and diversification strategies to stay in the market. The results also present opportunities such as drought -resistant cultivars production for farmers.

The comparative evaluation of the chemical, physical properties and heavy metals present in soil under Cocoa, Cassava and uncultivated land was carried out in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. Soil samples from the top soil (0cm – 15cm) were collected with an auger from cocoa, cassava farms and uncultivated land at Iruekpen, Edo State for analyses. The soil was air dried, sieved and the sieved soil samples were analyzed for its texture, aggregate stability, chemical properties and heavy metals. The results indicated that Sand fraction in Cocoa plantation was higher than that of Cassava and Uncultivated land. The silt and clay fraction was higher in cassava farm than the other land use and the textural classes of the soils were loamy sand. The percentage of soil Aggregate Stability under cocoa plantation was 12% and was significantly (p≤0.05) higher compared to others. The organic carbon and nitrogen content and the heavy metals concentration such as copper, manganese were significantly (P≤0.05) higher in cocoa farm compared to other land use. The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the relationship between physical and chemical soil properties with land use practices. In conclusion, the different land use significantly influences the aggregate stability, chemical, physical properties and the heavy metals content of the soil.

The study aims to analyze the effect of drilling mud on soil quality through the determination of the concentrations of selected physiochemical properties on soils. The period of sampling and analysis was between July and October. Soil samples from the dump sites and the control sites were physiochemically analyzed using Gas Chromatography, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals etc. respectively. The result of the analysis performed (using ANOVA) shows that there is significant variation in the mean of all the physiochemical parameters tested in the site excluding sodium which has no significant variation at 1% F-distribution: F-calculated at 2 and 6 degree of freedom (6.13) is lower than the F tabulated value at the same degree of freedom (10.92). The implication of this result is that the sites impacted with mud are associated with heavy metals and PAHs contamination together with problem of unavailability of nutrients. Hence routine treatment should be carried on the dump sites to annul the negative effect of heavy metals, PAHs and soil acidity on the soil quality indicators.

In this research work, a covalent organic framework adsorbent functionalized with titanium dioxide was synthesized. Then, Effect of pH, amount of adsorbent, agitation time, and initial concentration of methylene blue and tetracycline pollutants on the process of pollutant removal from water were investigated. The effect of ultraviolet light on the performance of the adsorbent was studied. The adsorbent’s ability to remove pollutants was compared in the presence and absence of UV light. The synthesized adsorbent consists of two parts. The main part includes the covalent organic framework that shows effective surface adsorption, and the other part is titanium dioxide, which is connected to the structure of the adsorbent by covalent bonding. The titanium dioxide is activated when exposed to ultraviolet light and increases the removal percentage of the adsorbent under optimal conditions. Functionalization of the covalent organic framework with titanium dioxide created a dual-purpose and efficient adsorbent to remove pollutants.

The BEST-procedure was applied to estimate the soil physical quality (SPQ) of a marginal soil managed with no tillage for a long time or shallow tilled from a few days. Six soil indicators, directly or indirectly obtained from BEST, were used to account for the modifications due to the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic soil properties, that specifically were: bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, macroporosity, air capacity, plant available water capacity and relative field capacity. The guidelines of literature were considered to evaluate the optimal values of such indicators and mean SPQ values were used to compare the effects of contrasting soil management (freshly tilled soil vs undisturbed soil). The long-term untilled soil showed a tendency towards physical degradation and, for this, it was more prone to compaction and, consequently, water erosion during intense rainfall events. However, the results highlighted that a relative improvement was possible by means of surface soil tillage because, as a matter of fact, tillage improved the soil properties in both hydrodynamic and hydrostatic terms. The study confirmed the diagnostic ability of the BEST procedure to estimate the soil physical quality for comparison purposes. More generally, the procedure may be suggested to evaluate the SPQ in a relatively simple, easy and fast way, and appropriately evaluate the land use sustainability of large areas.

The aim of the study was to determine the quality of available drinking water sources in Okerenkoko, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Nigeria. The parameters assessed include pH, EC, TDS, Pb, Fe, Mn, bacterial and fungal counts using appropriate methods. The results was recorded in triplicate and presented in mean values; the pH values ranged from 6.0 – 7.33; Pb (0.04 – 0.60 mg/L); Fe (0.33 – 5.84 mg/L) and Mn (0.18 – 2.60 mg/L). Conversely, the bacteriological results showed a range of total bacteria counts of 2 X 103 – 18.3 X 103 (cfu/ml) and a total fungi counts of 2 X 103 – 20.3 X 103 (cfu/ml) respectively. On isolation, Escherichia, Staphylococus Epidermis, Streptococus Spp and Staphylococcus Aureus were recovered as bacteria isolates while Trichoderma Spp, Agergillus Flavus, Ahergillus Niger, Penicillium Spp and Mucor were recovered as fungi isolates in some of the water samples collected. Correlation analysis at P < 0.01 revealed a similar source for Pb, Fe and Mn which is attributed to the anthropogenic activities in the area. Juxtaposing correlation analysis with regression analysis using Pb as an independent variable, the result showed an increasing trend of the metals against the natural background which further confirms anthropogenic input. Groundwater in the study area cannot be consumed unless thorough treatment is administered in view of the health implication.

This study aimed to assess the pollution of heavy metals, specifically Cd, Fe, Pb, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Zn, in the water filtration plants of DHA phase II Islamabad, Pakistan. As the zone relies heavily on these sources for in house and drinking purposes, eleven samples were collected and preserved for analysis. Laboratory testing, conducted for all samples using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy instrument, revealed that levels of Iron, Manganese, and Zinc were within accepted limits in nearly every sample. However, concentrations of Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr exceeded PAK-EPA standards, suggesting potential health risks. The calculation of the Heavy Metal Pollution Index indicated that most samples were unsuitable for direct consumption, emphasizing the hazardous nature of the water for drinking purposes.

This investigation was done to find out how much packaged natural spring and mineral water consumed in Hawler City contained nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-). Between January and March of 2021, a total of sixty water samples with four replications from fifteen different companies (Life, Mazi, Reni, Lava, Kani, Rovian, Rawan, Hayat, Vauban, Grand Barbier, Evian, Bakoor, Shexy balak, Mira, and Tiyan) were tested for nitrate and nitrite. Using the spectrophotometric method, the levels of nitrate and nitrite were determined. Based on the findings, every water sample contained both nitrate and nitrite. The findings indicated that the average concentrations of nitrate and nitrite in the water sample ranged from 1.6 mg/l to 28.48 mg/l and 0.044 mg/l to 0.69 mg/l, respectively. Ultimately, the levels of nitrate and nitrite in a total of 60 water samples from Hawler City were deemed safe for consumption and in compliance with relevant international and national regulations.

A study was conducted to assess the effect municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment methods on the growth and performance of amaranths (Amaranthus hybridus) in the Sudan Savannah of Nigeria. MSW were collected from different locations in Kano metropolis, mixed together and then subjected to different treatment methods (pyrolysis, composting and untreated). Products of this treatment methods were applied to soil at different rate of 0, 5, 10 and 15ton ha-1. Effect of MSW treatment methods on the performance of amaranths was assessed by sowing amaranths seed in the amended soil in field and pot trial phases using RCBD and CRD respectively. Result from plant trials shows significant differences (p≤0.05) on plant height and number of leaves with highly significant difference (p≤0.01) on leaf area of amaranths in the pot trial. Significant differences (P≤0.05) were observed on the number of leaves as well as fresh and dry weight of amaranths in the field trial. From the study, it was concluded that municipal solid waste treatment methods affect the growth and performance of amaranths. There was an observed significant increase in the performance of amaranths following biochar application. Untreated (raw) wastes are relatively easier and less expensive to be used but has less pronounced effect on plant growth when compared with the control treatment. The recommended treatment method for municipal solid wastes depends on the overall purpose of application. It is therefore recommended that stakeholders be involved in the recycling of municipal solid wastes through composting as that may reduce expenses for procurement of inorganic fertilizer and provide waste management solution as well as increased crop yield for small holder farmers.