Laboratory Assessment of Basalt Dust Incubation on the Physical Properties of Contrasting Soils in Nigeria

The effects of different application rates, particle sizes, and incubation periods of basalt dust on the selected physical properties of contrasting soils incubated for 90-day was evaluated in this study. A factorial arrangement with a 4×2×4 completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was adopted. Air-dried and sieved soil samples collected from Auchi and Agbede town were treated each with basalt dust from Ikpeshi quarry at the rate of 0, 5, 10, and 15t/ha and particle sizes of ≤63µm and ≤125µm fractions. The treatment of soil with basalt dust was significant at (p < 0.05) by altering the repacked bulk density, particle density, porosity, and temperature of the soil. The repacked bulk density increased from 1.39 to 1.71 g cm-³ for Auchi loamy sand and 1.16 to 1.43 g cm-³ for Agbede silty loam, while values of 2.27–2.62 g cm-³ and 2.04–2.52 g cm-³ were evaluated for their particle densities, respectively. Slight improvement in soil porosity was recorded for loamy sand soil of Auchi (42.29%) and silty loam soil of Agbede (47.62%) at 5 – 10 t ha-1 rate of basalt dust. During the incubation period, the average soil temperature rose gradually from about 28.3°C to 31.2°C. The Duncan’s Multiple Range Test and three-way ANOVA showed that both the main and interaction effects of basalt parameters considered were significant on the selected soils’ physical properties. The findings revealed that basalt dust can be used as soil amendment, helping to improve soil microclimate and physical properties’ stability.