Influence of Bone Ash on Soil California Bearing Ratio (cbr)

The study focussed on stabilizing potential of ash obtained from calcination of cattle bones from slaughter house in Ibadan. Cattle bones obtained were burnt in an open air. The residue was fed into furnace at about 1100 o C for four hours, allowed to cool, milled and sieved with sieve of aperture 75 micro metre to obtain bone ash (BA). The bone ash (BA) was used to stabilize four soil samples A, B, C and D selected randomly from Ibadan Metropolis. The BA was added in proportions of 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20% by weight of samples to the soils. The results obtained showed that on addition of BA, California bearing ratio (CBR) value showed an increase as percentage BA increased up to 7%, after which it was characterized by a steady decrease. Therefore, bone ash of up to 7% can be used to enhance soil California bearing ratio of subgrade or road base. Engaging in the production of calcinated bone ash as a means of human sustenance to stabilized soils rather than leave the bones to litter the environment should be encouraged.