Effects of Charcoal Production on Soil Physicochemical Properties in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria
Open Access
- 1 January 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Scientific Research Publishing, Inc. in Journal of Environmental Protection
- Vol. 13 (02), 220-232
- https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2022.132014
Abstract
Charcoal production is a major economic activity in rural Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria. Given that it generally involves the use of traditional earth kilns, this study was designed to investigate the effects of charcoal production on the physical and chemical properties of soil. Replicate soil core samples were collected within a depth of 0 - 20 cm from 19 charcoal kiln sites (CKS) and 19 adjacent control sites (ACS) across five administrative districts in the study area. These samples were subjected to laboratory analysis to determine their physical and chemical qualities and then t-test was used to statistically compare the CKS and ACS soils. There was no significant difference in soil texture between both sites. However, CKS soil pH and electrical conductivity significantly increased (p 0.05) due to charred biomass introduced to soils by the process of charcoal production. The CKS cation exchange capacity, Ca and Mg increased significantly (p < 0.0001) by 40.11%, 57.15% and 89.16%, respectively. Charcoal production significantly reduced Fe by 28.54%, while the concentration of other heavy metals remained similar between both sites. The findings showed that charcoal production using traditional earth kilns improves soil physical and chemical properties for agriculture purposes. However, further studies are suggested to understand its effects on vegetation cover and soil biota.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- Carbon and nitrogen mineralization and enzyme activities in soil aggregate-size classes: Effects of biochar, oyster shells, and polymersChemosphere, 2018
- Charcoal production through selective logging leads to degradation of dry woodlands: a case study from Mutomo District, KenyaJournal of Arid Land, 2016
- Charcoal, livelihoods, and poverty reduction: Evidence from sub-Saharan AfricaEnergy for Sustainable Development, 2013
- Demand for cooking fuels in a developing country: To what extent do taste and preferences matter?Energy Policy, 2011
- Nitrogen retention and plant uptake on a highly weathered central Amazonian Ferralsol amended with compost and charcoalJournal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 2008
- Effects of charcoal production on soil physical properties in GhanaJournal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 2008
- Monitoring and Assessing Soil BioremediationPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,2005
- Effects of charcoal production on maize yield, chemical properties and texture of soilBiology and Fertility of Soils, 2004
- Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal - a reviewBiology and Fertility of Soils, 2002
- Impact of grazing on soil in the southern guinea savanna zone of NigeriaEnvironmentalist, 1991