Palm Oil Mill Effluent: A Potential Solution for Enhancing Soil Fertility

Background and Objective: Palm oil mill effluent (POME), a byproduct of palm oil processing, is traditionally viewed as an environmental pollutant due to its high organic content and biochemical oxygen demand. This study evaluates some properties of soil samples collected from a POME discharge site in Omerelu, Rivers State. Materials and Methods: Soil samples were collected from the POME polluted site and a non-POME polluted site which served as the control sample. The samples were analyzed for the physicochemical properties of the soil samples using the AOAC standards for laboratory procedures. The IBM SPSS version 25 was used for the statistical analysis, and Turkey’s post hoc test was used for multiple comparison. Results are presented as Mean±Standard Deviation, with significance at p≤0.05. Results: Results showed a significant increase in soil pH from 5.1067±0.0100 in non-POME soil (Sample A) to 6.7300±0.1 in POME soil (Sample B). Organic carbon content rose substantially from 0.3767±0.1528 in Sample A to 2.9267±0.1528 in Sample B. Total nitrogen levels also increased from 1.0830±0.002 to 1.3713±0.0015 while available phosphorus improved significantly from 1.43±0.01 to 14.3267±0.251 mg/kg, reflecting enhanced nutrient availability. Visual assessments corroborated these findings, with POME soil exhibiting a darker, humus-rich appearance and denser vegetation. Conclusion: These results indicate that POME, when properly managed, can serve as an eco-friendly soil amendment, improving soil fertility and agricultural productivity. However, its strong odour and potential environmental risks highlight the need for treatment before application. This study advocates further large-scale trials and the development of regulatory guidelines to optimize POME’s use in agriculture, promoting both environmental sustainability and enhanced crop yields.