Land Evaluation of an Agricultural Landscape in Dingyadi District, Sokoto State, Nigeria

A semi-detailed survey was conducted to evaluate the soils of an agricultural landscape in Dingyadi area of Sokoto State. Three soil mapping units TLL1, TUP2 and TUP3 were identified on the basis of land forms and surface texture. USDA land capability classification, Fertility capability classification and land suitability classification were use for this purpose. The soils were grouped into various Land capability classes as class IVw, IIIse, and IIIes for TLL 1, TUP 2 and TUP3 respectively. In land fertility capability classification (FCC) soil units TLL 1, TUP 2 and TUP3 were classified as LSg, Lde and Sde respectively. The suitability of the soil was assessed for two major crops (Cowpea and pearl millet) grown in the area TUP2 and TUP3 are rated moderately suitable for cowpea and pearl millet (S2s) while TLL 1 was rated currently not suitable (N1Sw) for cowpea and pearl millet because of limitation of wetness. Management practices such as periodic monitoring of soil quality, adding organic manure and guidedinorganic fertilizer use have been recommended for improve productivity.Keywords: Land, Suitability, Capability; Fertility, Classification, Evaluatio

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Soils around Cassava Processing Mills in Sub- Urban Areas of Delta State, Southern Nigeria

The concentrations, contamination/pollution index, anthropogenic input and enrichment factors for metals in soil in the vicinity of cassava processing mills in sub-urban areas of Delta State of Nigeria were examined. The concentrations of metals in all sites and depths ranged from 0.1 to 383.2 mg kg-1 for Mn, 4.0 to 11.3 mg kg-1 for Ni, 1746.4 to 2839.6 mg kg-1 for Fe, 0.01 to 3.70 mg kg-1 for Cr, 3.7 to 29.5 mg kg-1 for Cu, 21.9 to 97.3 mg kg-1 for Zn, 0.01 to 1.60 mg kg-1 for Cd and <0.01 to <0.01 mg kg-1 for Pb. The concentrations of metals at these sites were below the Department of Petroleum Resources target values for metals in soils except for Cd in some sites. A significant fraction of these metals aroses from anthropogenic sources. The percent anthropogenic fraction of metals in the soil follow the order Cd > Zn > Ni > Cu > Fe > Cr > Pb.Keywords: Anthropogenic input, cassava, heavy metals, pollution inde

Characterization and Classification of Soils on an Agricultural landscape in Dingyadi District, Sokoto State, Nigeria

No Abstract

Heavy Metals in Soils and Tomatoes Grown in Urban Fringe Environment in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Mn and Fe in soils and tomato leaves and fruits from peri-urban environments in Asaba, Delta State were determined after acid digestion by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The concentrations of metals in the soil samples were 10.14, 2.28, 3.96, 7.88, 0.15, 14.53 and 66.00 mg/kg site A; 7.01, 2.01, 2.03, 5.53, 0.16, 12.15, and 70.12 mg/kg site B, and 9.12, 2.24, 3.01, 4.35, 0.01, 11.52, and 61.22 mg/kg site C for Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Mn and Fe respectively. The concentrations of metals in the tomato leaves samples were 4.01, 1.91, 1.83, 4.89, 0.16, 4.51 and 7.13 mg/kg in site A; 3.84, 1.56, 2.07, 4.00, 0.41, 4.48 and 8.15mg/kg in site B, and 4.03, 1.75, 2.01, 4.52, 0.01, 4.42 and 8.11 mg/kg in site C for Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Mn and Fe respectively while in the tomato fruits, the concentrations of metals in mg/kg were 2.96, 0.41, 1.35, 3.33, 0.01, 3.83 and 6.38 mg/kg in site A; 3.01, 1.35, 1.88, 2.98, 0.15, 3.01 and 5.09 mg/kg in site B, and 3.92, 1.44, 1.82, 3.73, 0.01, 3.05 and 6.00 mg/kg in site C for Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Mn and Fe respectively. These values obtained in the soils for all sites were below the given values for naturally occurring metals in soil and Department of Petroleum Resources target and intervention values for metals in soil while the values recorded for tomatoes leaves and fruit are below the levels recommended by WHO/FAO and NAFDAC for metals in foods and vegetables but are within the normal range of metals in plants. There was positive correlation among metals except Pb/Cr, Cr/Mn and Cr/Fe. The values of transfer factor (tf) obtained for all the metals except Fe in leaves and fruits for all the sites were above 0.2 indicating anthropogenic contamination of the sites and also high take up and accumulation of the metals from the soil by the tomatoes thus the need for environmental monitoring of the area.Key words: Heavy metals, tomato, anthropogenic, contamination, pollutio

Atmospheric Level of SO2 in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

The concentration of atmospheric sulphur (IV) oxide in Sokoto Metropolis was determined by sucking air in hydrogen peroxide solution, followed by the photometric determination of the sulphates ion formed. The overall mean concentration obtained (0.270+-0.051 mg/m3) exceeds the recommended WHO daily guideline value of 0.125 mg m−3 and maximum annual level of 0.050 mg m−3 (WHO 2000). KEYWORDS: Sulphur (IV) oxide, Atmosphere, Sokot

Physicochemical and heavy metals values of Nigerian crude oil samples

Crude oil samples collected from Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Benin City representing three different oil wells each for Onshore and Offshore and labeled A, B, C for Onshore and D, E, F for offshore were analyzed for their ash content, volatile matter, pH, relative density and metal content. The results showed that manganese recorded the highest concentration, while copper had the least. The mean values of the ash in both the Onshore and Offshore crude oil are in the order C>A>B for the Onshore and E>F>D for the Offshore oil samples analyzed, and the overall ash content for all the samples analyzed are in the order C>E>B>F>D>A. The values of the volatile matter in both the onshore and off shore crude oil samples obeyed the order B>A>C for the onshore and D>F>E for offshore crude oil samples, while the general trend was in the order C<E<B<F<D<A. The mean pH values of both the onshore and offshore samples were (7.89) for A, (7.62) for B, (7.93) for C, and (8.03) for D, (8.23) for E, (8.11) for F. The relative density of crude oil samples determined at temperature 34oC were of the order C<E<B<F<D>A, The concentration of the heavy metals ranged from 2.20 – 3.5 ppm for Mn, 1.42-1.62 ppm for Ni, 1.04 – 1.44 ppm for Fe, 0.68 – 0.74 ppm for Cr, 0.48 – 0.54 ppm for Zn, 0.28 – 1.12 ppm for Co, 0.31-0.34 ppm for Cd, 017 – 0.19 ppm for Pb and 0.08-0.12 for Cu. It was obvious from these studies and previous ones that Nigerian crude have low metal content. However, the low concentrations could pose an intrinsic health hazard considering their cumulative effect in the environment. Keywords: Heavy metals, crude oil, petroleum, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(1): 10-15, 201