AN APPRAISAL OF HEAVY METALS AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SOIL AT MANTA WATERSHED AND UPLAND IN ABAK, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The analysis of some heavy meals and physicochemical proterties of soil in Manta watershed and Manta 
upland soils were carried out through a ramdomized feild study. The soil samples were collected at difference 
locations of Manta land (ML) and Manta watershed (MW) at 0-15cm and 15-30cm respectively, using Uncam 
AAS Model 939 to analyze for Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn). The physicochemical status of 
MW shows that the soil texture was sandy loam with a mean sand content varies from 91.80>92.60% while the 
pH values were recorded at 4.98>4.73, EC 0.06>0.08, OM 3.09>2.49, and TN showed no significant 
difference between the two locations, while Av. P (10.22>5.42) and Ca, Mg, Na, and K showed low 
significance. EC changed moderately throughout the sites. The heavy metal concentrations were as follows:  
ML; iron (Fe) were 33.97 mg/kg (0-15 cm) > 33.84 mg/kg (15-30 cm), lead (Pb) levels were 6.71 > 4.95 
mg/kg, copper (Cu) levels are 5.33 > 5.29 mg/kg, and zinc (Zn) levels are 5.46 > 5.36 mg/kg. In contrast, MW; 
iron (Fe) levels were 32.30 mg/kg (0-15 cm) > 31.47 mg/kg (15-30 cm), lead (Pb) levels are 6.10 > 3.23 
mg/kg, copper (Cu) levels are 5.31 > 5.29 mg/kg, and zinc (Zn) levels were 5.21 > 5.00 mg/kg. The MW soil 
indicate good drainage and low water-holding capacity as well as low nutrient availability and mineral 
retention, posing no health hazards to grazing animals, humans, or freshwater bodies according to the 
WHO/FAO recommendation against the soil of ML.