STABILIZATION OF LATERITE SOIL USING PLANTAIN BUNCH STALK ASH

Soil is one of the most important construction materials in the world. It has been effectively exploited for various purposes, such as building social infrastructures, growing agricultural products, and promoting many other important activities that can be useful for human life. The nature of the soil is uncertain from one place to another due to its physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. The present work briefly describes the use of locally available agriculture waste i.e. Plantain bunch stalk ash (PBSA) as a replacement of cement and is also to minimize the amount of waste to be disposed off to the environment causing environmental pollution. Soil sample taken for experiment is laterite soil of high plasticity and it is stabilized by adding different percentage of Plantain bunch stalk ash (PBSA) ranging from 2%, 4%, and 6%. The test performed on the laterite soil sample is to observe the different soil properties like Hydrometer analysis, Maximum dry density (MDD), Optimum moisture content (OMC), Compaction test, California bearing ratio (CBR). The liquid limit ranged from 18.00% to 31.00%, plastic limits varied from 9.52% to 17.65%, while plastic index is of the order of 5.50% to 13.35%. The maximum dry density ranged from 1.76g/cm³ to 1.978g/cm³, while the optimum moisture content varied from 12.00% to 21.00%. The evaluation reveals that the lateritic soils have higher plastic limits, Maximum Dry Densities (MDD) and California Bearing Ratios (CBR) while their liquid limits, plasticity indices and Optimum Moisture Contents (OMC) are lower. The lateritic soils were classified as A-6, A-6 and A-4 Group and are adjudged suitable for sub-grade, good fill and sub-base and base materials. This geotechnical information obtained will serve as base-line information for future road foundation design and construction in the study area. Result of study indicated that optimal proportion of Plantain bunch stalk ash (PBSA) is reducing the cost of Soil Stabilisation as well as reducing the amount of waste to be disposed off in the environment and also replace cement that to protect our environment.