Effect of Different Slums on Selected Soil Properties in Abakaliki Southeastern Nigeria

A study was conducted at Abakaliki to determine the effect of slums on soil physicochemical properties. Four replicate samples were collected from the four slum locations and control using auger and core for disturbed and undisturbed soil samples, respectively. The soil samples collected were taken to laboratory and analysed for bulk density, total porosity, mean weight diameter, aggregate stability, dispersion ratio, pH, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, organic carbon, C/N ratio, total exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity, effective cation exchange capacity, base saturation and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Sn). The data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) based on CRD and difference between treatment means were dictated using F-LSD. Except for dispersion ratio which is non-significant, all the parameters studied showed significant (p < 0.05) changes with respect to the different locations studied. The result showed lower improvement in soil physical and chemical properties in slums than control. On the other hand Cd, Cu, Pb, and Sn were higher in slums than control. Similarly, these heavy metals observed were higher than the usual range in soils. Thus, the study suggests that slum soils should not be used for crop production since they are associated with heavy metal pollutions and also lack the essential nutrients required by crop for performance