KIJHUS Volume. 3, Issue 2 (2022)

Contributor(s)

Okwakpam, I.O., Eludoyin, O.S, Onugha, A.C
 

Keywords

Soil infiltration characteristics land uses urbanizing wetlands
 

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ASSESSMENT OF SOIL INFILTRATION CHARACTERISTICS OF LAND USES IN URBANIZING WETLANDS IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

Abstract: The capability of certain spatial activities to trigger a cycle of environmental problems in a reactor (like soil) necessitated the assessment of soil infiltration characteristics of land uses in urbanizing wetlands in Port Harcourt metropolis, South-South Nigeria. The study adopted an experimental design that warranted laboratory analysis of the physical properties such as porosity, bulk density, moisture content, and permeability that determine infiltration characteristics. 21 soil samples were collected from 4 land uses (agricultural, residential, commercial, and artisanal) in each of the 5 selected wetlands and control in the study area. The result of the physical properties of the soil samples was subjected to a statistical analysis of mean and standard deviation. The study revealed a mean porosity of 0.36%, moisture content of 14.51%, and permeability of 128.10 cm/h in the land uses that fall within the 0.99%, 10%–40%, and 120–250 cm/h USDA classification of Low Porosity (LP), Normal Moisture (NMC), and Rapid Permeability Index (RPI) respectively for soil samples. Also, the study found that the mean bulk density of 2.45 g/cm3 in the land uses fit into the USDA classification of soil with a bulk density of 2.00 gcm-3 as High Bulk Density (HBD) that predisposes soil to high infiltration rate. While the values of 1.09 g/cm3, 0.33%, 10.33%, and 91.95% for bulk density, porosity, moisture and permeability respectively obtained at Rumuekini (Control) fits into the USDA classification of such soil as Low Bulk Density (LBD), Low Porosity (LP), Normal Moisture Content (NMC), Slow Permeability Index (SPI) respectively. The study mathematically expressed that HBD = LIR while LBD = HIR. The study recommended that developers, prior to the approval of their land use applications, should be made to understand and attest to their compliance and vicarious liability to waste or effluent discharge laws in order to forestall the intrusion or incursion of contaminants into the soil.