Title: Stabilization Of Lateritic Soil With Bamboo Stem Ash And Oil Palm Frond Ash Mixtures
Authors: Aderinlewo Olufikayo, Aloba Victor, Amadu Olalekan and Obateru Michael
Volume: 9
Issue: 4
Pages: 375-380
Publication Date: 2025/04/28
Abstract:
Soil stabilization is a critical process in improving the load-bearing capacity, strength, and durability of soils for construction purposes, especially in regions with weak soils with high plasticity. This study investigates the stabilization of lateritic soil using bamboo stem ash (BSA) and oil palm frond ash (OPFA) as eco-friendly stabilizers. Laboratory experiments, including Atterberg limits, compaction, and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests, were conducted on untreated soil and soil treated with varying proportions of the stabilizers (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%). The results showed that the addition of bamboo stem ash and oil palm frond ash had no significant impact on the soil's mechanical properties. The optimum moisture content increased, while the maximum dry density decreased with higher stabilizer content, indicating poor compaction behavior for highway pavement construction. The CBR values of the stabilized soil increased, with maximum improvement observed at 4% stabilizer content. The study concludes that bamboo stem ash and oil palm frond ash mixtures cannot effectively enhance the engineering properties of lateritic soil, and thus other agricultural waste materials should be studied in view of promoting sustainable construction and environmental conservation through the reuse of agricultural waste.