Effects of Automobile Battery Wastes Disposal on Soil Health Indices

This study was designed to assess the impact of automobile battery waste disposal on the indices of soil health and fertility. Soil samples were collected from three major mechanic villages in Akure and Owo in Ondo State. The physicochemical parameters were analyzed using standard methods while the heavy metal content was assessed using a spectrophotometer. Also, the microbial population was determined using the pour plate method and some biochemical tests. The results show that the soil sample from Owo had the least total bacterial count of 65.10x 105 CFU/g) while the sample from Akure 2 had the highest bacterial count of 185.50 x 105 CFU/g. The probable organisms isolated from the samples were Klebsiella spp, Escherichia spp, Staphylococcus spp, Proteus spp, Pseudomonas spp, Bacillus spp, Serratia spp and Enterobacter spp. There were significant differences between the physicochemical parameters of the contaminated soil samples and the uncontaminated control soil. The electrical conductivity of the contaminated soil samples (1.20, 0.92 and 0.38) was higher significantly (p<0.05) than the uncontaminated (0.21) soil sample. The pH values were acidic (4.57) compared with the control (7.42). Other indices like C, Ca. CEC and bulk density among others have values that were different significantly (P<0.05) between the contaminated soil and the control. In addition, the levels of heavy metals such as Lead, Cadmium and Chromium in the contaminated soil were significantly higher than in the control soil sample. The study confirms that the health indicators of the battery waste-receiving soil in the studied area are highly compromised therefore it may need remediation to reduce soil pollution.