Soil Quality Assessment of Agricultural Soils Amended with Sewage Sludge in Jos, Central Nigeria

Soil Quality Assessment of Agricultural Soils Amended with Sewage Sludge in Jos, Central Nigeria | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Soil Quality Assessment of Agricultural Soils Amended with Sewage Sludge in Jos, Central Nigeria Comfort Nimmyel, Solomon Nehemiah Yusuf, Hyeladi Usman Dibal, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9271005/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Organic manure has been used as a nutrient source since the dawn of agriculture. Still, after the widespread use of inorganic fertilizers, bulky organic manures became the second-best option for supplying nutrients. The application of sewage sludge as organic manure in agriculture has raised concerns about soil contamination, environmental safety, and public health. This study assessed the concentrations of selected heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb)) and investigated the presence of pathogens, such as bacteria and parasites, in soils amended with sewage sludge in Jos North and its environs, North Central Nigeria. Soil samples were analyzed for heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Ni) using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), and for microbial and parasitological contaminants using standard culture and microscopic techniques. Results showed a significant increase in zinc (Zn) concentration in sludge-amended soils, with a mean difference of 0.0047495% (47.495 ppm) compared to non-sludge soils, while other heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni) did not vary significantly. Although the concentration of these heavy metals remains within the safety limits set by WHO and FAO standards, it is important to monitor their concentrations in relation to soil health and crop safety as they accumulate over time. Bacteriological analysis identified seven bacterial pathogens, with Escherichia coli being the most prevalent (40% of samples), while parasitological analysis revealed three species of roundworms. The detection of E. coli and other pathogens indicates substantial faecal contamination originating from sewage sludge. These findings highlight potential risks of phytotoxicity, soil quality deterioration, and adverse human and animal health effects, particularly when contaminated soils are used for food production. The study underscores the need for proper sludge treatment, strict monitoring of heavy metal accumulation, and the development of policies to ensure safe agricultural practices as further accumulation over the years may pose a higher risk. Agricultural soils sewage sludge heavy metals pathogens Sewage Sludge and soil Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 05 May, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 30 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 30 Apr, 2026 Editor invited by journal 21 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 21 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 21 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9271005","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":634667442,"identity":"8b7b5723-b6cb-4876-a41a-1a283d925949","order_by":0,"name":"Comfort Nimmyel","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA70lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYJCCDyCCDcwssAESjI0HCOhgnMHAYADVYpAGEmggTgsEGBwGU3i18Ld3JzZ83PMnj0/sdJrEB4PzdmvbDwNtqbGJxqVF4szZjY0znhkUs0nnbpOcYXA7eduZRKCWY2m5DTi0GEjkbn/Mc8AgsQ2oRZoHqMXsAFALY8NhfFo2NsO1/DE4l2x2/iEpWhgMDtiZ3SBgC8QvB4xBWjZb9hgkJ5jdANqSgMcv/O29Gxs+HJBLnD87d+ONHxV29mbn0x8++FBjg1MLMmCRABKJYJUJRCgHAWZQyrEnUvEoGAWjYBSMIAAAakpmYWgbonMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"University of Jos","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Comfort","middleName":"","lastName":"Nimmyel","suffix":""},{"id":634667443,"identity":"1730a82d-c472-4c2a-8b53-46db9f5cf65b","order_by":1,"name":"Solomon Nehemiah Yusuf","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Jos","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Solomon","middleName":"Nehemiah","lastName":"Yusuf","suffix":""},{"id":634667445,"identity":"0067e987-c25f-434f-a6af-ac60ea9ef5e1","order_by":2,"name":"Hyeladi Usman Dibal","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Jos","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hyeladi","middleName":"Usman","lastName":"Dibal","suffix":""},{"id":634667447,"identity":"c5b1a3d4-3c2b-4930-a908-1015338ffd86","order_by":3,"name":"Rhoda Bernard Gusikit","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Jos","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rhoda","middleName":"Bernard","lastName":"Gusikit","suffix":""},{"id":634667448,"identity":"b4f80361-8595-4c4c-a44d-a2cbf7411d16","order_by":4,"name":"Yusuf Ibrahim","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Maiduguri","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yusuf","middleName":"","lastName":"Ibrahim","suffix":""},{"id":634667455,"identity":"96316744-2728-4acd-a63a-602630d249d8","order_by":5,"name":"Sunday Sani Daku","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Jos","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sunday","middleName":"Sani","lastName":"Daku","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-30 18:23:35","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9271005/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9271005/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108823315,"identity":"3378cd68-c5b8-49e0-bc11-152b58593bad","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-08 16:53:12","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1238263,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"HEAVYMETALSPATHOGENSPAPER2026COMFORT.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9271005/v1_covered_99f7a62d-f91f-4873-9436-c5e9fd6ccdce.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Soil Quality Assessment of Agricultural Soils Amended with Sewage Sludge in Jos, Central Nigeria","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-soil","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Soil](https://link.springer.com/journal/44378)","snPcode":"44378","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44378/3","title":"Discover Soil","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Agricultural soils, sewage sludge, heavy metals, pathogens, Sewage Sludge and soil","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9271005/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9271005/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eOrganic manure has been used as a nutrient source since the dawn of agriculture. Still, after the widespread use of inorganic fertilizers, bulky organic manures became the second-best option for supplying nutrients. The application of sewage sludge as organic manure in agriculture has raised concerns about soil contamination, environmental safety, and public health. This study assessed the concentrations of selected heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb)) and investigated the presence of pathogens, such as bacteria and parasites, in soils amended with sewage sludge in Jos North and its environs, North Central Nigeria. Soil samples were analyzed for heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Ni) using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), and for microbial and parasitological contaminants using standard culture and microscopic techniques. Results showed a significant increase in zinc (Zn) concentration in sludge-amended soils, with a mean difference of 0.0047495% (47.495 ppm) compared to non-sludge soils, while other heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni) did not vary significantly. Although the concentration of these heavy metals remains within the safety limits set by WHO and FAO standards, it is important to monitor their concentrations in relation to soil health and crop safety as they accumulate over time. Bacteriological analysis identified seven bacterial pathogens, with \u003cem\u003eEscherichia coli\u003c/em\u003e being the most prevalent (40% of samples), while parasitological analysis revealed three species of roundworms. The detection of \u003cem\u003eE. coli\u003c/em\u003e and other pathogens indicates substantial faecal contamination originating from sewage sludge. These findings highlight potential risks of phytotoxicity, soil quality deterioration, and adverse human and animal health effects, particularly when contaminated soils are used for food production. The study underscores the need for proper sludge treatment, strict monitoring of heavy metal accumulation, and the development of policies to ensure safe agricultural practices as further accumulation over the years may pose a higher risk.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Soil Quality Assessment of Agricultural Soils Amended with Sewage Sludge in Jos, Central Nigeria","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-05-08 16:46:14","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9271005/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"97530715826973197501084924392084684236","date":"2026-05-05T09:15:49+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-30T06:30:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-04-30T06:21:34+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-21T22:17:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-04-21T18:01:19+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Soil","date":"2026-04-21T17:33:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-soil","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Soil](https://link.springer.com/journal/44378)","snPcode":"44378","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44378/3","title":"Discover Soil","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"abe49ea9-73d1-43d0-9240-c314e57ad9aa","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 8th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"97530715826973197501084924392084684236","date":"2026-05-05T09:15:49+00:00","index":37,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"33","date":"2026-04-30T06:30:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-04-30T06:21:34+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-08T16:46:14+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-05-08 16:46:14","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9271005","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9271005","identity":"rs-9271005","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}