GEOTECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF RESIDUAL CLAY IN ZARIAGI, LOKOJA, NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
Implication for industrial applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2024-0805-2687Keywords:
Residual clay, Geotechnical assessment, Lokoja, North-central NigeriaAbstract
Clay is one of the world's most important and oldest building materials but also poses some challenges for civil and geotechnical engineers. Hence, understanding its geotechnical properties is key to the determination of their industrial applications. The geotechnical characteristics of six residual clay samples from the crystalline basement rocks in Zariagi, Lokoja, north-central Nigeria, were evaluated to determine its suitability for construction and civil engineering. Parameters assessed included particle size distribution, consolidation, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, linear shrinkage, loss on ignition, compaction, and permeability. Grain size analysis and Atterberg limit tests classified the samples as clayey. Liquid limit ranged from 36% to 37%, indicating low plasticity. The plastic limit ranged from 33.38% to 34.66%, and the plasticity index from 2.14% to 2.71%, suggesting the clay exhibits low to medium swelling potential when wet and can withstand volumetric shrinkage when dry, meeting the requirements for barrier soils. Compaction tests revealed an optimum moisture content (OMC) of 14.90% to 18.50% and maximum dry density (MDD) of 1270 kg/m³ to 1320 kg/m³, indicating suitability for building construction. Linear shrinkage percentages ranged from 2.86% to 4.29%, indicating moderate linear and low volumetric shrinkage. Loss on ignition values from 3.74% to 4.49% suggested low organic matter content and the absence of swelling clays. Permeability values ranged from 0.000133 cm/sec to 0.000140 cm/sec, suggest moderate permeability. The results suggest the Zariagi clay is suitable for barrier soil and building construction applications.
References
Anang, B. T., Dokyi, E. O., Asante, B. O., & Donkoh, S. A. (2022). Technical efficiency of resource-poor maize farmers in northern Ghana. Open Agriculture, 7(1), 69-78.
Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (2020). Annual Report 2020. Retrieved from KNARDA Annual Report 2020. https://www.fanshawelibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/APA-7th-Edition-LLC-2020.pdf
Mezgebo, G. K., Mekonen, D. G., & Gebrezgiabher, K. T. (2021). Do smallholder farmers ensure resource use efficiency in developing countries? Technical efficiency of sesame production in Western Tigrai, Ethiopia. Heliyon, 7(6), e07315-e07315.
National Population Commission and National Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Population Projections by State and Gender (2013-2023). Retrieved from National Population Estimates - National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria. https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/download/474
NIHORT (2023). Available at: https://nihort.gov.ng/?stomato (Accessed April 04, 2023).
Usman, M. (2019) Kano largest producer of tomatoes in Nigeria. Available at: https://dailyNigerian.com/kano-largest-producer-of-tomatoes .
Van der Waal, J. W. H. (2015). Tomato production in Kano State, Nigeria: A value chain analysis. Wageningen University. Retrieved from Tomato production in Kano State, Nigeria: A value chain analysis. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2015/sc/c5sc00410a
Wosene, G., & Gobie, W. (2022). Value chain analysis of tomato: The case of Bure, Jabitehinan and North Mecha districts of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 7, 100272.
Yang, W., Lin, C., & Hu, P. (2020). Willingness and Obstacles of Food and Farming Education in Leisure Farm Management: Viewpoint of Experience Activities. Open Access Library Journal, 7(6), 1-14. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1106445
Amao, I. O., Adeoye, I. B., Idris, B. A., Yomi-Owojori, T. O., & Balogun, O. L. (2022). Socioeconomic Shocks and Value Chain Development of Tomato in Kano, Nigeria. In COVID-19 in the African Continent: Sustainable Development and Socioeconomic Shocks (pp. 81-92). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Aminu, A., & Shehu, A. M. (2007). Tomato chain analysis in Kano River irrigation project, Nigeria. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Bayero University, Kano.
Campbell, R. (2006). Strengthening Value Chains to Promote Economic Opportunities. World Report, fall 2006: The Value Chain Approach: Strengthening Value Chains to Promote Economic Opportunities.
Christopher, C. and Jonathan, M. (2011). Gender and Agricultural Value Chains. A Review of Current Knowledge and Practice and the Policy Implications. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Ferrer, S. R., Sánchez, M. V. B., & Soler, A. R. (2020). Value chain governance and sustainability in Latin American agriculture. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 44(5), 527- 546.
Gatzweiler, F. W., Lannerstad, M., Shao, L., Rosendahl Jorgensen, H., Luedeling, E., & Huang, J. (2020). Sustainability through value chain development? A review of interventions and assessment of transformative potential. Sustainability, 12(7), 2963.
Ibrahim K. and Adamu (2016). Analysis of Value Chain on Irrigated Tomato in Kano State, Nigeria: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Partial Fulfilment of The Requirements for The Award of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree in Rural Development; Pp. 84 (4.5).
IFPRI. (2018). Transforming Nigeria's Agriculture. International Food Policy Research Institute.
Ilu, I. Y., Suleiman, N. J., Sanje, K., & Baba, D. (2021). Comparative Analysis of Tomato Marketing in Karnataka State of India and Kano State of Nigeria. Journal of Agripreneurship and Sustainable Development, 4(4), 152–158.
Khan, H, S, Chaudrhy, K. M, Ashrafi, U. and Ejarz, K. (2020). An investigation of the problems faced by vegetable growers regarding post-harvest practices in District Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. Biological and Clinical Sciences Research Journal, 15:1-7.
National Bureau of Statistics (2017) Demographic Statistics Bulletin, 2018 Projected Population by state (2012-2016) page 7.
OECD/FAO (2012), OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2012, OECD Publishing. doi: 10.1787/agr_outlook-2012-en; OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2012 - ISBN 978-92-64-173071© OECD/FAO 2012.
Paresh Kumar Sarma and M. H. Ali (2018), Value Chain Analysis of Tomato: A Case Study in Jessore District of Bangladesh; International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064 Impact Factor (2018): 7.426 Volume 8 Issue 2, February 2019 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY.
Plaisier, C., Dijkxhoorn, Y., van Rijn, F., Bonnand, J., and Talabi, O. (2019). The vegetable and potato sector in Nigeria: an overview of the present status (Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen Economic Research report number: 2019-119). doi: 10.18174/504921.
Rachiel, H. A., Zenebe, A. K., Leake, G. and Weldegerima, B. (2018). Assessment of production potential and post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables in Northern Region of Ethiopia. Journal and Food Science, 7(29):1-8.
Sani, M. H., Kadau, R., Sani, R. M., & Danwanka, H. A. (2023). Analysis of Socio-Economic Characteristics And Post-Harvest Loss Storage Facilities Used By Vegetable Crops Value Chain Actors In Adamawa State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, 3(1), 210-229.
Tegbaru, A., Gashaw, T., & Endrias, G. (2021). Value chain development and its contribution to agricultural growth and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, 11(1), 7-21.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
FUDMA Journal of Sciences
