EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF WASTEWATER GENERATED FROM CATFISH PONDS ON THE QUALITY OF SOIL IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was performed to examine catfish (Clarias gariepinus) effluents on the quality of soil in La-
gos State, Nigeria. Five fish farms with highest stock density were selected for evaluation. The soil
sampling was collected at 10 metres apart before the effluent discharged site; at the effluent dis-
charged site; 10 metres after the effluent discharged site and Non-effluent discharged site (control)
denoted as SA, SB, SC and SD respectively. Analysis of the required soil physical and chemical prop-
erties were performed at 5 cm depth from 0 – 20 cm. Results showed that the effluents discharged site
and Non-effluents discharged site indicated that they contained Temperature (26.5±0.1, 27.5±0.1
oC),
pH ( 6.7±0.1, 6.2±0.1), Water Holding Capacity (WHC) (36.4±2.1, 21.4±1.2%), Organic carbon
(10.8±0.1, 7.4±0.1 mg/kg), TN (26.4±2.2, 22.4±2.1 mg/kg), TP (7.3±0.1, 6.1±0.1 mg/kg), Potassium
(3.4±0.1, 3.1±0.1 mg/kg), Calcium (9.5±0.1, 5.9±0.1 mg/kg), Sodium (1.6±0.1, 0.9±0.1 mg/kg), mag-
nesium (8.8±0.1, 7.2±0.1 mg/kg), Zinc (3.3±0.1, 3.0±0.1 mg/kg), Iron (58.7±4.2, 55.8±3.2 mg/kg) and
Manganese (23.6±2.3, 21.1±2.2 mg/kg) respectively and were significant different (p≥0.05). Both soil
nutrients at the immediate environment of effluents discharged site were within critical range of soil
fertility for arable crop production.