International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Environmental Sciences 2319-1414 9 4 2020 10 22 Flow of water through soil columns as influenced by cassava wastewaters application 23 37 EN K.M. Harishma 1 Division of Forest Botany, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, Kerala, India S. Sandeep 2 Division of Forest Botany, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, Kerala, India V.B. Sreekumar 3 Division of Soil Science, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi 680 653, Kerala, India Gwambene Brown 1 Marian University College, Bagamoyo, Tanzania Opiyo Stephen Balaka 1 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Kisii University, P.O Box 408-40200, Kisii, Kenya Osunbitan J.A. 1 Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria Akinyele O.A. 2 Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria > Research Paper 2019 11 5 2020 10 22 This study investigated the effects of cassava wastewater and soil types on the flow rate through saturated soil columns. This was with a view to examine the vertical movement of trace elements from the wastewater in the columns of soil. The experiment for column leaching was carried out using three different types of soil (Iwo, Apomu, Egbeda) plus four variable levels of cassava wastewater (0, 6, 12, and 18ml). The samples of soil were compressed to 1.50g/cm3bulk density in order to simulate the soil bulk density obtained at the soil collection site. The soil columns were saturated with de-ionized water after which the various levels of cassava wastewater were added. The columns were then left for 24 hours to allow for the adsorption of the trace elements in the wastewater to soil particles. After a day period of adsorption, each soil column was leached with 1767.1cm3 (translating to 10cm depth) of de-ionized water and the leachate flow rate monitored every 2 minutes. The depth of leachate was measured and the flow rate calculated. The results showed that the flow rate was higher at 12ml of effluent for Iwo and Egbeda while Apomu was slower at almost all the four levels of the wastewater applied. Flow through the columns of Iwo soil rises faster than that of the other two soils. The result also showed that the average total leachate of 88.99, 99.86, and 100.87ml of water flowed through the columns containing Apomu, Egbeda and Iwo soils respectively. On the average, the time to peak of 13.71, 25.90 and 28.07 minutes were observed for Iwo, Apomu and Egbeda soils respectively. Two-way ANOVA shows that there are significant differences among the three soil types (F = 22.585, df = 2, P < 0.05), the four levels of cassava wastewater (F = 4.568, df = 3, P < 0.05) and the interaction between the soil types and cassava wastewater (F = 14.702, df = 6, P < 0.05) on the time to peak flow. The ANOVA results also showed no significant variations among the soil types (F = 4.768, df = 2, P < 0.05), but significant differences among the levels of cassava wastewater (F = 11.107, P < 0.05) and the interaction between the soil types and cassava wastewater (F = 3.806, df = 6, P < 0.05) on the total leachate. However, the Post-Hoc Test (using Tukey HSD) for multiple comparisons also shows that the soil types and all the levels of cassava wastewater are significant different in their effects on the time to peak flow rate. It can be seen that cassava wastewater on the agricultural soils will affect the flow rate of water through the soil profile hence there is need for proper treatment of the effluent before discharge into the environment. Copyright@ International Science Community Association