SOIL QUALITY EVALUATION IN RANGELAND SOILS IN RELATION TO HEAVY METALS POLLUTION

Authors

  • E. U. Onweremadu
  • I. C. Okoli
  • O. O. Emenalom
  • M. N. Opara
  • E. T. Eshett

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/reb.v28i63.22722

Keywords:

Land, Soil, Bioaccumulation, Biotoxicity, Soil quality, Morphological index

Abstract

Heightened anthropogenic activities at the study site necessitated this investigation on soil quality. A transect soil survey technique was used to link sampled points from an open dumpsite towards the river valley. Three minipedons were dug and sampled per location and collected samples were used for various laboratory analyses. Results showed that soils of the dumpsite (OB1) had the highest soil quality morphological index (SQMI) value of 3.82, indicating best quality while the least SQMI was found in the ranch (SQMI = 1.27). The SQMI had significant correlations with OM (organic matter) (r=0.82; p=0.001; n=72), clay (r=65; p=0.01; n=72), pH(r=0.58; p=0.01; n=72) and bulk density (r=0.71; p=0.05; p=0.05; n=72). Although there were positive correlations between SQMI and copper and cadmium, heavy metals were poor predictors of SQMI, indicating that soil quality evaluation by SQMI assesses mainly soil physical fertility.

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Published

2006-11-24

How to Cite

Onweremadu, E. U., Okoli, I. C., Emenalom, O. O., Opara, M. N., & Eshett, E. T. (2006). SOIL QUALITY EVALUATION IN RANGELAND SOILS IN RELATION TO HEAVY METALS POLLUTION. Revista Estudos De Biologia, 28(63). https://doi.org/10.7213/reb.v28i63.22722

Issue

Section

Fluxo Contínuo