Effects of spent engine oil pollution on arable soil of Nekede Mechanic Village Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract

The disposing automobile wastes in the environment; especially spent engine oil on arable soils around mechanic villages is a common practice in Nigeria. Consequently this investigation was carried out in order to assess the effect of spent engine oil on selected soil physical and chemical
properties and the co-relationship that exist among these. A transect sampling technique was used in collecting sample at Nekede mechanic village in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria. Samples were collected at 5 m intervals within a depth of 0 – 15 cm at spent engine oil polluted soils and
unpolluted soils located about 1/2 a kilometer away from polluted sites. Soil samples were prepared and subjected to routine soil physical and chemical laboratory analyses. The presence of spent engine oil in the polluted soils negatively affected moisture content, bulk density and porosity of the soils. The affected soils become more acidic with a value of 5.1 in polluted soils as against 6.2 in unpolluted soils. Also there was reduction of soil available phosphorus from 26.6 ppm in unpolluted to 20.9 ppm in polluted. Organic carbon content became higher in polluted soil due to the presence of hydrocarbon in soils. This high organic carbon content resulted in over 100% increase of carbon: nitrogen ration, which affects soil fertility and productivity. In order to reduce this environmental menace, better methods of disposing these automobile wastes should be
developed. In addition, remediation measures should be embarked upon immediately.

Keywords: Mechanic village, spent engine oil, arable soils, hydrocarbons, Nigeria