Use of urban waste in agriculture and risks of contamination of soils and plants in heavy metals

Abstract

Urban waste are used to improve soil fertility in urban agriculture. This study was conducted to analyze the
practices to the use of urban waste in vegetable and ceraliers gardens to estimate the risks of soils and plants
contamination for heavy metal in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). Three hundred twenty nine
(329) cereal and vegetable farmers were interviewed individually on their pr actices regarding urban waste. Social
characteristics of farmers, the farms characteristics, the types of urban waste used and how they are used were
documented. Thirty nine percent (39%) of farmers have between 41 and 50 years old. Fifty-six percent (56%) of
farmers have not was scolarize. Household garbage, municipal waste, slaughterhouse waste and sewage are main
used in addition to manure and chemical amendments. Garbage is sorted before applied to the field by the majority
of farmers in Bobo-Dioulasso, but not in Ouagadougou. Twelve percent (12%) and 25% of farmers respectively
in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso composting waste before application. There is a correlation between the
social status (gender and level of education) and the method of treating urban waste before application.