ABSTRACT:

This study investigated the effects of cassava processing waste (CPW) on soil physico- chemical properties and microbial populations. Soil samples were collected from the depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm from areas with and without CPW disposal. Analysis revealed significant alterations in soil chemical properties, including increased organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and decreased pH. Microbial populations were also affected, with increased bacterial and fungal counts found in CPW-affected soils. The analysis demonstrates that cassava processing waste has resulted in an increase in soil pH at both 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths in polluted soils compared to unpolluted soils. Microbial population showed a positiveand significant correlation with nitrogen (N) (r =0.51, (p<0.05), organic carbon (OC) (r = 0.81, (p<0.01), and organic matter (OM) (r = 0.81, (p<0.01), and negative and non-significant correlation with clay (r= -0.36, (p>0.05) and available P (r =-0.12, (p>0.05). This result implies that an increase in microbial population will subsequently increase the level of N, OC and OM in the soil. The findings from this study showed that cassava processing waste significantly enhances microbial populations in the upper soil layers, likely due to the organic matter and nutrients present in the effluent, which can stimulate microbial growth. It is recommended that integrated waste management practices should be implemented, including composting, anaerobic digestion, or other treatment methods. Regular soil testing and monitoring should be conducted to assess the impact of CPW disposal.