Influence of Rice Mill Solid Waste on Soil Quality in Gboko Rice Mill of Benue State, Nigeria

Laboratory and field experiments were carried out during the dry season of 2023 to determine the influence of
rice mill solid waste dumpsites on soil quality in Gboko rice mill in Benue State. Soil samples were collected at
the depth of 0–30 cm at five (5) distances (1 m, 50 m, 100 m, 150 m and 200 m) away from the dumpsite. The soil
sample taken at the 200 m in the location not subjected to waste disposal served as control. These samples were
air-dried and analysed for particle size distribution, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, sulphur, available
phosphorus, exchangeable bases, nitrates, sulphates, phosphates, base saturation, exchangeable sodium
percentage, electrical conductivity and selected heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn and Mn). The results indicated that
the parameters examined in the soil samples in the location showed a decrease in concentration with distance
away from the dumpsites, except Fe and Al. Heavy metal concentration in soil at the location was below
permissible safe limits, except in soils for Cd which was slightly above these limits. It was concluded that rice mill
solid waste significantly influenced various measurable soil properties. Continuous monitoring of these quality
indices would be required to avoid contamination of soils within the vicinity of the dumpsites. Remediation for Cd
in soils of the location would also be necessary.

Al-Jaboobi, M. (2014). Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soils and vegetables irrigated with
wastewater in Yemen [Doctoral thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia].
Alloway, B. J. (1995). Heavy metals in soils (2nd ed.). Blackie Academic & Professional.
Anjembe, B. C., Gesa, T. R., & Ibrahim, N. B. (2018). Effect of fertilizer sources on heavy metal accumulation
in soils and quality of Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) grown in Makurdi, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal
of Soil Science and Tillage Research, 4, 25–35.
Bouyoucos, G. J. (1951). A recalibration of the hydrometer method for making mechanical analysis of
soils. Agronomy Journal, 43(9), 434–438.
Brady, N. C., & Weil, R. R. (1999). The nature and properties of soils (12th ed.). Prentice-Hall.
Brady, N. C., & Weil, R. R. (2015). The nature and properties of soils (14th ed.). Pearson Education.
Bremner, J. M., & Mulvaney, C. S. (1982). Nitrogen—Total. In A. L. Page, R. H. Miller, & D. R. Keeney
(Eds.), Methods of soil analysis: Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties (2nd ed., pp. 595
624). American Society of Agronomy.
Das, D. K. (2015). Introductory soil science. Kalyani Publishers.
Duncan, D. B. (1955). Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11(1), 1–42.
European Union. (2002). Council Directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of the environment, and in particular
of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. Official Journal of the European Communities.
FAO. (1994). Water quality for agriculture (FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29, Rev. 1). Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations.
Foth, H. D. (1990). Fundamentals of soil science (8th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Goyer, R. A., & Clarkson, T. W. (2001). Toxic effects of metals. In C. D. Klaassen (Ed.), Casarett and Doull's
toxicology: The basic science of poisons (6th ed., pp. 811–867). McGraw-Hill.
Ifejimalu, A. C. (2018). Effects of rice mill wastes on soil properties in a rice-producing state of south-eastern
Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 28(2), 91–221.
Kabata-Pendias, A. (2011). Trace elements in soils and plants (4th ed.). CRC Press.
Karlen, D. L., Mausbach, M. J., Doran, J. W., Cline, R. G., Harris, R. F., & Schuman, G. E. (1997). Soil quality:
A concept, definition, and framework for evaluation. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 61(1), 4
10.
Laoye, B. J., Adebayo, A. O., & Ogunleye, O. O. (2025). Heavy metal contamination: Sources, health impacts,
and sustainable mitigation strategies with insights from Nigerian case studies. Environmental Science
and Pollution Research, 32(15), 18567–18589.
Larson, W. E., & Pierce, F. J. (1994). The dynamics of soil quality as a measure of sustainable management. In J.
W. Doran, D. C. Coleman, D. F. Bezdicek, & B. A. Stewart (Eds.), Defining soil quality for a sustainable
environment (pp. 37–51). Soil Science Society of America.
Mbah, C. N. (2006). Influence of organic wastes on plant growth parameters and nutrient uptake by maize (Zea
mays L.). Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 16, 104–108.
Njoku, C., & Mbah, C. N. (2012). Effect of wastes on selected soil properties in Abakaliki southeastern
Nigeria. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 1(3), 178–188.
Nnabude, P. C., & Mbagwu, J. S. C. (2001). Physicochemical properties and productivity of a Nigerian Typic
Haplustult amended with fresh and burnt rice mill wastes. Bioresource Technology, 76(3), 265–272.
Nwite, J. N., & Azuka, C. V. (2019). Impact of rice mill wastes dump on soil physico-chemical properties in
Abakaliki, southeastern, Nigeria. Elsevier Science.
Odeh, A. A., Alwadood, J. A., Ihenacho, M. N., Kopteer, E. P., Aniya, U., John, J. A., Nwagwu, N. G., Abdullahi,
S. K., Oriola, H. I., Aaron, V., Jackson, E. R., Tukur, K. A., Adebo, K. O., Nweke, C. A., Ikediashi, T.,
Ikwuka, A. C., & Amodu, P. O. (2024). A GIS-based analysis of heavy metals around Otukpo rice mill
in Benue state. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 22(1), 1025–1031.
Odoh, R. (2014). Assessment of soils in the vicinity of rice mill industry, Otukpo, Benue State for potential heavy
metal contaminations. Semantic Scholar.
Olatunji, O., & Ayuba, S. A. (2011). Effect of combined applications of poultry manure and NPK 20-20-10
fertilizer on soil chemical properties and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Proceedings of the 35th Annual
Conference of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, 145–154.
Onakpa, M. M., Njan, A. A., & Kalu, O. C. (2018). A review of heavy metal contamination of food crops in
Nigeria. Annals of Global Health, 84(3), 488–494.
Rakshit, A., Raha, P., & Bhadoria, P. S. (2015). Principles of soil science. Kalyani Publishers.
Rakshit, A., Raha, P., & Bhadoria, P. S. (2017). Principles of soil science (2nd ed.). Kalyani Publishers.
Seybold, C. A., Mausbach, M. J., Karlen, D. L., & Rogers, H. H. (2014). Quantification of soil quality. In R. Lal,
J. M. Kimble, R. F. Follett, & B. A. Stewart (Eds.), Soil processes and the carbon cycle (pp. 387–404).
CRC Press.
Titler, K. G. (1986). Essential and toxic heavy metals in soils and their ecological relevance. Transactions of the
XII Congress of the International Society of Soil Science, 1, 29–44.
Udo, E. J., Ibia, T. O., Ogunwale, J. A., Ano, A. O., & Esu, I. E. (2009). Manual of soil, plant and water analysis.
Sibon Books.
Uguru, B. N., Mbah, C. N., & Njoku, C. (2015). Effect of organic wastes on selected soil physical properties and
crop yield in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria. Global Advanced Journal of Agricultural Science, 4(12),
2315–5094.
Umar, B. A., Kawuwa, B., Dewa, A. U., Muhammad, S. L., & Aminu, R. S. (2025). Assessment of heavy metal
levels in vegetables grown on abandoned refuse dumpsite soil and associated health risks in Mubi
Metropolis, Adamawa State, Nigeria. ASRIC Journal on Natural Sciences, 5(1), 45–58.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (1999). Guide to Part 503 rule. USEPA.
USDA. (2001). Guidelines for soil quality assessment in conservation planning. United States Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Quality Institute.
Walkley, A., & Black, I. A. (1934). An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter,
and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science, 37(1), 29–38.
WHO. (2004). International standards for drinking water. World Health Organization.
Wuana, R. A., & Okieimen, F. E. (2011). Heavy metals in contaminated soils: A review of sources, chemistry,
risks and best available strategies for remediation. ISRN Ecology, 2011, Article 402647.
Xiao, Y., Li, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Regulation of rhizosphere microenvironment by rice husk ash for reducing
the accumulation of cadmium and arsenic in rice. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 136, 1–10.
Yahaya, T., Bello, S., Izuafa, A., Inuwa, F., Boku, U. I., & Nathaniel, J. (2026). Heavy metal contamination,
physicochemical properties, and environmental health risks of soils affected by rice mill effluents in
Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Science, Health & Sustainability, 2(2), 174–186.