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Elliot Final
Elliot Final
CHEMISTRY
By
(SC20A819)
Faculty of Science of the University of Buea in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the
Supervisor:
Dr TOH BOYO
JUNE 2023
0
DEDICATION
i
UNIVERSITY OF BUEA
CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that the work entitled: “Soil analysis in the university of Buea around
dumped areas and five hundred meters away around non-dumped areas to determine
to the department of chemistry in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a
Date:
DR TOH BOYO
Lecturer
(Supervisor)
ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks to my supervisor Dr Toh Boyo for his guardians and
support in completing my project. A special thanks and gratitude my family and friends for their
suppore
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ABSTRACT
Background: The physico-chemicals parameters of soil include a range of characteristics such as PH, soil
conductivity, moisture content, organic matter content amongst others. Dumps from local community,
industries, laboratories affect the soil negatively as it destabilizes the soil by contaminating with
impurities killing microorganisms like bacteria which play important role in humus formation. This
limitation affects crops and living organisms so it os important to carry out soil analysis.
Method: soil PH determined by taking 20g of each soil sample weighed kept in 100ml beaker and 25ml of
distilled water added, stirred and a PH meter used to determine its PH values. Soil conductivity was
determined by taking 20g each of soil sample weighed and putting 100ml beaker 25ml of distilled water
added and left for 30minutes while stirring and conductivity values determined using conductivity meter.
The soil moisture content determined using four crucibles dried and weighed, 40g placed in each crucible
and weight of sample and each crucible determined, then placed in an oven for about 200 0C for some
hours. The soil organic matter content was determined by taking 4 crucibles weighed and 40g of entire
oven dried test from moisture content placed in the crucible thereafter, placed in an oven and temperature
For Organic matter content: NDS 1 = 18.28%, NDS 2 = 17.7%, DS 1 = 16.97%, DS 2 = 17.5%
Conclusion: from data above dump sites have higher content low, low moisture content compared to
Non-dump sites with moderate values, which indicates lack of available nutrients for plants which hinder
fertility of soil.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
DEDICATION............................................................................................................................................i
CERTIFICATION.....................................................................................................................................ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT........................................................................................................................iii
ABSTRACT..............................................................................................................................................iv
TABLE OF CONTENT.............................................................................................................................v
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................7
1.2 RATIONAL.........................................................................................................................................8
1.3 OBJECTIVES......................................................................................................................................9
v
3.4 DETERMINATION OF SOIL CONDUCTIVITY.........................................................................14
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS........................................................................................................................14
4.2 PH STATISTICS...............................................................................................................................15
5.1 DISCUSIONS.....................................................................................................................................17
5.2 CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................18
5.3 RECOMMENDATION.....................................................................................................................18
REFERENCE..........................................................................................................................................20
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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Soil is a complex and dynamic system that plays a critical role in supporting life on earth. It is a vital
resource for agricultural, forestry, and other land base activities and is essential for maintaining the health of
ecosystems and the services they provide (Brandy and Weil, 2016). Soil health is influenced by a range of
chemical physical and biological factors including soil PH, organic matter content, soil conductivity, soil
moisture content, soil texture, nutrient availability and microbial activities (Doran and zeiss, 2000).
Soil PH is a measure of soil’s acidity or alkalinity, and it can greatly affect the availability of nutrients to
plants. The PH of soil in waste dumped sites can vary depending on the types of waste disposed. For example,
acidic waste can lower the PH of soil, while alkaline waste can increase it.
Organic matter content in soil is composed of plant and animal residues that have decomposed overtime. The
organic matter content of soil in waste dumped sites could be affected by the type of waste disposed as well as
Also, soil conductivity is a measure if the ability of soil to conduct electrical current. It is influenced by the
presence of ions in the soil, which could be derived from natural sources such as weathering and organic
matter decomposition, or from human activities such as fertilizer application and industrial pollution. High and
low soil conductivity can have negative impacts on plants growth and ecosystem health, and could also be an
Soil moisture content is a measure of the amount of water held in the soil, and is influenced by a range of
factors such as climate, soil texture, and land used. Soil moisture content is critical for plant growth and could
also influence soil structure, nutrient availability and microbial activities (Dexter eta al, 2008).
Understanding the physico-chemical properties of soil is crucial for effective land management and
conservation (Karlen et al, 2003). In recent years, there have been growing interest in studying soil health in
urban environments, where soil is often subjected to a range of anthropogenic pressure such as pollution,
urbanization, and land use exchange (Pavao-Zuckerman et al, 2010). Universities are important institutions in
urban areas that could have a significant impact on the surrounding environment. However, there is limited
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research on the physico-chemical properties of soil in university campuses, despite their potential importance
In this study, we investigated the physico-chemical properties of soil in University of Buea campus. The aim
of this research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the soil parameters that influence soil fertility, plant
growth, and ecosystem health. Our findings will contribute to the development of sustainable land
management practices and inform future research on soil health in urban environments.
The soil on university grounds plays a crucial role in the growth of plants and overall environmental health.
However, due to the continuous use and exposure to various environmental factors, the quality of the soil may
deteriorate over time. It is important to regularly monitor the physicochemical properties of the soil to ensure
Therefore, the university needs to establish a soil analysis program to determine the physicochemical
properties of the soil on its campus. The program should include regular sampling and testing of soil from
different locations on campus to assess the pH, organic matter content, nutrient levels, texture, and other
The results of the soil analysis can be used to develop strategies to improve the quality of the soil if necessary,
such as by adding organic matter or adjusting the pH. Additionally, this data can be used to inform decisions
about plant selection and management practices that are best suited to the specific soil conditions on campus.
Overall, the establishment of a comprehensive soil analysis program will ensure that the university grounds
1.2 RATIONAL
The dump from local community’s industries laboratories amongst others affect the soil negatively as it
destabilizes the soil by contaminating it with the chemical impurities killing microorganisms like bacteria
which play an important role in humus formation. This limitation may affect both crops and living organisms
present around the area, so it is very important to carry out soil analysis to determine the physiochemical
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parameters around the area and carry out conclusions and resolutions on how to minimize the problem faced
by the soil.
1.3 OBJECTIVES
To determine some physico-chemical parameters around dump sites and around non-dump sites in the
University of Buea.
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CHATER 2: LITERARATURE REVIEW
Soil physicochemical properties play a crucial role in determining soil quality and fertility, and their
assessment is an essential component of soil management practices in agricultural and environmental settings.
Here are some relevant literature references on the physicochemical determination of soil in a university
context. Soil is the biologically active and porous medium that has developed in the uppermost layes of earth’s
crust. It serves as a reservoir of water and nutrients and a medium for the filtration and breakdown of injurious
wastes. Soil is the loose surface material that covers most land. It consists of organic particles and organic
matter. soil provides the structural support to plants used in agriculture and is also their source of water and
nutrients soil vary greatly in their chemical and physical properties. There are four main types of soil that is
sandy soil, clay or loam soil and silt soil, with others like alluvial soil, black cotton soil, red and yellow soil,
laterite soil, mountainous or forest soil and desert soil, saline and alkaline soil, peaty and marshy soil. The four
main types which are sandy, silt, clay and loam all got uses. The sandy soil is a type which is dry, light and
gritty and does not hold water well. Most sandy soils are acidic and lack a lot of nutrients. Because this soil
drains water quickly, this is one of the best types of soil to grow vegetables because of the good drainage and
because it warms up quickly. However, it doesn’t retain nutrients throughout the growing season adding
compost or manure for example is an excellent way to enhance sandy soil. Silt soil is parked with nutrients as
it originates from river sediments. It’s one of the best types of soil for gardening as a lot of plants flourish in
silt. The particles are medium sized therefore retain water quite well but drainage can become a problem. An
issue with silt soil is that it is easily compacted, this is because a problem with downpour of rain that can wash
it away or if its continually walked on. Adding organic matter to create larger clumps of soil can resolve the
issue
Clay soils can be very difficult for inexperienced gardeners. It’s very heavy and holds a lot of nutrients which
is good. However, it also holds a high amount of water and drains very slowly. This means that it remains very
moist and wet in winter and dries out and cracks in summer. Clay soil is useful for growing crops such as
wheat but needs to be amended with organic matter. Loam soil is a mixture of the three previous different
types of soil, sand, silt and clay. The combination works to create fertile, rich soil that offsets the negative
characteristics of the three soil on their own. There is always a dominant component that can make this soil a
sandy loam or clay loam. This is actually on of the best types of soils for plants and gardening and experienced
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gardeners and beginners alike will love working with it. The mixture of particles holds a lot of nutrients and
has excellent drainage the perfect condition for growing the soil is often referred to as agricultural soil because
Soil contamination occurs when human made chemicals, such as hydrocarbons and heavy metals find their
way into the earth altering the natural soil environment. Generally, soil contamination is cited as a
consequence of non-organic farming particles, industrial activity and improper waste disposal. Common
chemicals involved in soil contamination include petroleum hydrocarbons, leads, solvents, pesticides and
poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene. Pesticides and insecticides which are designated to
destroy pest and insects and herbicides which are designated to kill weeds are used by farmers in order to
protect their crops. Synthetic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides are created in the laboratory using a
combination of chemicals. In the past the use of synthetic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides has resulted
in soil contamination. Improper waste disposal has also lead to soil contamination. Treated sewage, also
known as bio solids, is sometimes used as a fertilizer. Higher in contaminants than other fertilizer, the use of
bio solid fertilizers ought to be subject to greater regulation. In addition, munitions may also cause soil
contamination, the chemicals present in biological weapons and other types of weapons can leach into soil,
greatly upsetting its natural balance. Soil pollution causes a chain of reactions, it alters soil biodiversity,
reduces soil organic matter and soils capability to act as a filter. It also contaminates the water stored in the
soil and ground water and causes an imbalance of soil nutrients. Among the most common soil pollutants are
heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and emerging pollutants like pharmaceuticals and personal care
products. (Brady, N.C. et al 2016). The nature and properties of soils. Pearson Publishers. This comprehensive
textbook provides an overview of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils and their
measurement methods (Clark, R.B. 2001) Understanding soil acidity: A handbook for consultants, growers,
and agricultural professionals. CRC Press. This book focuses on the measurement and management of soil
acidity, which is an important soil property that affects plant growth and nutrient availability (Gee, G.W., &
Bauder, J.W. 1986). Particle-size analysis. In A. Klute (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 1Physical and
Mineralogical Methods (2nd ed., pp. 383-411). American Society of Agronomy. This chapter describes the
particle size analysis method, which is used to determine the distribution of particle sizes in a soil sample.
(Nelson, D.W., & Sommers, L.E. 1996). Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In D.L. Sparks et
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al. (Eds.), Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 3—Chemical Methods (pp. 961-1010). American Society of
Agronomy. This chapter presents methods for measuring total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter
content in soils (Olsen, S.R., & Sommers, L.E. 1982). Phosphorus. In A.L. Page et al. (Eds.), Methods of Soil
Analysis: Part 2—Chemical microbiological Properties (2nd ed., pp. 403-430). American Society of
Agronomy. This chapter describes the methods for measuring phosphorus content in soils, which is an
important nutrient for plant growth (Rhoades, J.D. 1996). Salinity: Electrical conductivity and total dissolved
solids. In D.L. Sparks et al. (Eds.), Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 3—Chemical Methods (pp. 417-435).
American Society of Agronomy. This chapter presents methods for measuring soil salinity using electrical
conductivity and total dissolved solids (Soil Science Society of America 2017). Glossary of soil science terms.
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CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS AND METHODS
Walked across the field in a “W” pattern aiming to collect the sample with the sampling tool
Used a towel to remove a slice of soil about 2.5cm wide ton sample depth and collected in a clean plastic
paper. Furthermore, slices were taken in the same way from different parts of the field until all samples
collected.
Four crucibles were dried in the oven and weight recorded. 40g of soil sample was placed in the crucible and
weight of sample and crucible determined and recorded. the crucible with soil content was then placed in an
oven to about 1500C – 2000C for some hours After drying the crucible with its content was removed from the
The weight of the crucible and its content was determined and recorded after cooling. The moisture factor MF
W 2−W 1
Moisture factor MF =
W 3−W 1
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3.3 DETERMINATION OF PH
20g of each soil sample was weighed and put in a 100ml beaker 25ml of distilled water was added to the
sample. The suspension was left for 30 minutes with occasional stiring using glass rod in order to enable it
20g of each sample was weighed and put into a 100ml beaker 25ml of distilled water was added to the sample
the suspension was left for 30 minutes with occasional stirring using glass rod in order to enable it reach
equilibrium. the conductivity of the suspension was determined using a conductivity meter
The mass of four emptied and cleaned crucibles was recorded and determined (MP). Part of the entire oven-
dried test from moisture content experiment was placed in the crucible and soil specimen was determined and
recorded(MOPS). The crucible containing the soil specimen was placed in an oven and temperature gradually
increased to about 6000C and left overnight. The crucible was removed carefully using tongs since it was very
hot and allowed to cool and the mass of each determined and recorded.
MO
The organic matter content % was calculated using OM% = × 100
MD
Where; MO = MD – MA,
MD = MPPS – MP,
MA = MPA – MP
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CHAPTER 4: RESULTS
The physiochemical analysis of the soil samples includes: PH, organic matter, moisture content, conductivity
To carry out a statistical comparison, we use the t-test, assuming that S1 and S2 are the same, where, S =
standard deviation
Calculation
t=
[ X 1−X 2]
spooled √ n1n2
n1+n 2
, s = √ ∑ xi 2−¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ,
√
2
S 2 1 ( n1−1 ) +S 2( n2−1)
spooled = = degree of freedom
(n 1+ n 2−2)
4.2 PH STATISTICS
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Spooled value = 0.1394
t= calculated = 5.344
Degree of freedom = (n1 + n2 – 2) = 2
t-table at 95% C.I = 4.303
t= calculated = 7.682
Degree of freedom = 2
t-table at 95% C.I = 4.303
t= calculated = 0.349
t-table at 95% C.I = 4.303
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CHAPTER 5: DISSCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 DISCUSIONS
Soil parameters play a crucial role in determining the productivity and fertility of soil. In a university setting,
physico-chemical determination of soil parameters involves the analysis of various physical and chemical
Physical parameters of soil that are commonly analyzed in a university setting include soil texture, bulk
density, porosity, water holding capacity, and soil structure. Soil texture refers to the proportion of sand, silt,
and clay particles in soil samples and is determined using methods such as the hydrometer method or the laser
diffraction method. Bulk density, which is the mass of dry soil per unit volume, is commonly determined
using the core sampling method. Porosity, which is the proportion of pore spaces in soil, can be determined
using the water displacement method or the mercury intrusion porosimetry method. Water holding capacity,
which is the amount of water that soil can hold, is determined using the pressure plate method.
Chemical parameters of soil that are commonly analyzed in a university setting include soil pH, electrical
conductivity, organic matter content, and nutrient levels. Soil pH refers to the acidity or alkalinity of soil and
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is determined using a pH meter or a colorimetric method. Electrical conductivity, which is a measure of the
ability of soil to conduct electrical current, is commonly determined using the saturation extract method.
Organic matter content, which is the amount of decomposed organic material in soil, can be determined using
the Walkley-Black method or the loss-on-ignition method. Nutrient levels such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium are commonly determined using methods such as the Kjeldahl method or the inductively coupled
plasma method.
Various instruments and equipment are used to carry out physico-chemical analysis of soils in a university
setting. These include pH meters, conductivity meters, spectrophotometers, atomic absorption spectrometers,
5.2 CONCLUSION
The physiochemical studies of parameters are very important to a chemist for plant growth and soil
management. From results above we see the non-dumped sites have a favorable PH ranging from 5.67 – 5.57 a
favorable conductivity which is not too high ranging from 0.79 – 0.92, a high percentage of organic matter
ranging from 18.28% - 17.7 % a good moisture content ranging from 1.098 – 1.1055 indicating better
favorable conditions than the dump sites which have a PH from 6.43 – 6.30, low conductivity ranging from
0.25 – 0.26, low organic matter percentage from 16.97% -17.5%, low moisture content 1.0872 – 1.0819,
which equally indicates that dumping dirt’s distorts the management, stability and properties of the soil and if
care is not taken properly may cause several damage in the future.
5.3 RECOMMENDATION
Soil analysis is an important tool for determining the physicochemical properties of soil, which are crucial for
plant growth and health. Here are some common physicochemical parameters that are analyzed in soil testing:
1. pH: Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil and is an important factor in determining
2. Organic matter content: Organic matter in soil provides nutrients for plant growth, improves soil structure,
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3. Nutrient content: Soil nutrient content, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium,
4. Cation exchange capacity (CEC): CEC is a measure of the soil's ability to hold onto positively charged ions,
such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are important for plant growth.
5. Electrical conductivity: Electrical conductivity measures the soil's ability to conduct an electrical current
6. Texture: Soil texture refers to the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles in the soil and can
19
REFERENCE
One author Walker (2007) Walker (2007) (Walker, 2007) (Walker, 2007)
Walker and Allen Walker and Allen (Walker & Allen, (Walker & Allen,
Two authors
(2004) (2004) 2004) 2004)
20
(Lessard v. (Lessard v.
Lessard v. Schmidt Lessard v. Schmidt Schmidt, Schmidt,
Cases
(1975) (1975) 1975) 1975)
Reference with page de Haan (2005, pp. de Haan (2005, pp. (de Haan, 2005, pp. (de Haan, 2005, pp.
range
36-37) 36-37) 36-37) 36-37)
Dahl (2006, pp. Dahl (2006, pp. (Dahl, 2006, pp. (Dahl, 2006, pp.
Reference with several 105, 105, 105, 105,
discontinuous pages 109, 112-114) 109, 112-114) 109, 112-114) 109, 112-114)
In press/forthcoming Taylor (in press) Taylor (in press) (Taylor, in press) (Taylor, in press)
Same author, two works Todres (2011, Todres (2011, (Todres, 2011, (Todres, 2011,
2012) 2012) 2012) 2012)
from different years
21
Newspaper article/
“Prairie farmers “Prairie farmers (“Prairie farmers (“Prairie farmers
Newsletter (unknown
reap” (2001) reap” (2001) reap,” 2001) reap,” 2001)
author)
Personal
Communication/ J. Robbins (J. Robbins,
(personal J. Robbins (J. Robbins, personal
Interview/Unpublished (interview, interview,
communication, communication,
material (phone calls, January 4, 2001) January 4, 2001)
memos, lecture notes, January 4, 2001) January 4, 2001)
etc.)
Social Media
(Facebook,
Gaiman (2012) Gaiman (2012) (Gaiman, 2012) (Gaiman, 2012)
Twitter)
(Davidson &
Davidson and Davidson and Davidson, (Davidson &
Movie
Davidson (1999) Davidson (1999) 1999) Davidson, 1999)
Jenkins and Astley Jenkins and Astley (Jenkins & Astley, (Jenkins & Astley,
Full Special Issue
(2012) (2012) 2012) 2012)
Jenkins and Astley Jenkins and Astley (Jenkins & Astley, (Jenkins & Astley,
Full Special Section
(2012) (2012) 2012) 2012)
23
Idem, ibidem, op. cit. These are not used in APA style. Always use the Author (Year) and
(Author, Year) formats.