Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2013
Soil pollution due to oil spill is a common problem in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This ne... more Soil pollution due to oil spill is a common problem in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This necessitated the experiment to determine the effect of diesel oil pollution on some soil properties in Uyo within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The experiment was conducted at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm in 2009. It was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) in triplicates. The size of the experimental plot was 60.7m 2 , sub-divided into three sub-plots each measuring 20.24m 2 . Each sub-plot was divided into five experimental units receiving the following treatments: 0 (control), 8, 11.5, 14.5 and 22.0 litres of diesel oil, which was converted into 0.0%, 1.39%, 2.50%, 3.45% and 5.06%. The results at two weeks after oil application (2WAOA) showed significant decrease in soil pH from 4.90 in the control to 4.35 in 5.06% pollution levels resulting in soil reaction being rated as extremely acid in oil polluted soils compared to the control with soil/rea...
Influence of soil series and some soil physico-chemical properties on weed flora composition, den... more Influence of soil series and some soil physico-chemical properties on weed flora composition, density and distribution were assessed. The main objective was to find relationship between soil series and the distribution of different weed species as well as identify those soil properties, which significantly influence the occurrences of specific weed species. Using a detailed soil map (1:10,000), weeds and soil samples were drawn from five soil mapping units – Apomu series, Mamu series, Ibadan series, Iregun series and Iwo series each covering 1.5 ha of the land. From the result of field study occurrences and distribution of different weed species were associated more or less with some soil series than others. Chi-square test of associations showed a high and significant association (χ 2 = 28-88, P = 0.01- 0.001), between soil series and weed occurrence. A stepwise multiple regression analysis (P < 0.05) showed that the soil property for most of the variation in the distribution of...
The influence of cropping systems on the characteristics and fertility of soils derived from beac... more The influence of cropping systems on the characteristics and fertility of soils derived from beach sands was investigated. The study site was the Cross-River Basin farm, Onna Local Government, in the Niger Delta area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two cropping systems-sole cropping (SC) and mixed cropping (MC) and fallow plot [FP] as control, were examined. Pineapple (Ananas commosus) plot and water melon (Citrullus lanatus) plot, represented SC. Plantain/cassava (Musa spp/Manihot esculenta) plot and water leaf/scent leaf (Talinum triangulare L./Ocimum grattissimum) plot represented MC. Representative soil samples were collected at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths from each plot for laboratory analysis. The result showed that irrespective of cropping system or soil depth, total nitrogen [N] and exchangeable potassium (K) were low – (values below critical levels: < 0.15% and < 0.20 cmol/kg, respectively). Available phosphorus (P) was medium 8 – 20 mg/kg) at both depths in the pineapple p...
The land of Akwa Ibom State in a humid tropical area of southern Nigeria, was assessed for yam (D... more The land of Akwa Ibom State in a humid tropical area of southern Nigeria, was assessed for yam (Discorea spp) cultivation using the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Land Suitability Evaluation (LSE) system. Twenty nine pedons (about 40% of the state’s land area) identified through field soil survey were evaluated. The results showed that by individual rating, certain land qualities/characteristics:– climate, drainage, soil depth and organic matter content were optimal, others were sub-optimal or grossly inadequate for yam cultivation. However suitability aggregate rating and suitability classification of the 29 pedons showed that about 72% of the area was only marginally suitable, while 28% was not suitable for yam cultivation. The most severely limiting land quality characteristic for yam cultivation in the area was chemical fertility, most importantly, exchangeable potassium (K) and low base saturation. For optimum yam performance, much investment in K fertilizer applicatio...
Influence of soil series and some soil physico-chemical properties on weed flora composition, den... more Influence of soil series and some soil physico-chemical properties on weed flora composition, density and distribution were assessed. The main objective was to find relationship between soil series and the distribution of different weed species as well as identify those soil properties, which significantly influence the occurrences of specific weed species. Using a detailed soil map (1:10,000), weeds and soil samples were drawn from five soil mapping units - Apomu series, Mamu series, Ibadan series, Iregun series and Iwo series each covering 1.5 ha of the land. From the result of field study occurrences and distribution of different weed species were associated more or less with some soil series than others. Chi-square test of associations showed a high and significant association (χ 2 = 28-88, P = 0.01- 0.001), between soil series and weed occurrence. A stepwise multiple regression analysis (P < 0.05) showed that the soil property for most of the variation in the distribution of...
A field soil survey and laboratory studies were carried out to examine the influence of crude oil... more A field soil survey and laboratory studies were carried out to examine the influence of crude oil and industrial wastes pollution on soil profile development and characteristics in Ikot Abasi, Niger Delta area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Nine soil profiles, three each, in oil affected site (OAS), industrial waste affected site (IWAS) and non-contaminated (control) site (NCS), respectively, were studied. Soil samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory for some physical and chemical properties. The result of soil classification following the USDA Soil Taxonomy and correlated with the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) showed that all the three pedons from the control (NCS) were highly weathered and matured soils (Ultisols). Of the three pedons from the OAS, two (66.7%) were matured while one (33.3%) was young soil (Inceptisol/Cambisol). Similarly, of the three pedons from the IWAS, one (33.3%) was matured (Ultisols/Acrisols) while two pedons (66.7%) were young soils (Inceptisols/Cambisols). This indicates that environmental pollution can retard soil formation and profile development resulting in relatively young soils. Furthermore, analysis of variance (ANOVA), showed that soils of OAS were significantly (P< 0.05) different from those of IWAS and NCS in 12(52.2%) and seven (30.4%), respectively, of the 23 soil properties considered. Also, soils of IWAS were significantly different from those of the NCS in six (26.1%) of the soil properties. The result further showed that oil pollution significantly increased soil total hydrocarbon (THC) and lead (Pb) contents as well as organic matter content (OM), available phosphorous (P) exchangeable potassium (K), micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and lowered exchangeable acidity (EA). Industrial wastes also increased soil exchangeable calcium (Ca) and K and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and lowered EA. Therefore, appropriate remediation and land management practices can ameliorate the harmful effects of these pollution activities while the essential nutrients and positive influences imparted to the soil during the pollution are harnessed to improve the land/soil qualities and characteristics.
Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2013
Soil pollution due to oil spill is a common problem in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This ne... more Soil pollution due to oil spill is a common problem in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This necessitated the experiment to determine the effect of diesel oil pollution on some soil properties in Uyo within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The experiment was conducted at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm in 2009. It was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) in triplicates. The size of the experimental plot was 60.7m 2 , sub-divided into three sub-plots each measuring 20.24m 2 . Each sub-plot was divided into five experimental units receiving the following treatments: 0 (control), 8, 11.5, 14.5 and 22.0 litres of diesel oil, which was converted into 0.0%, 1.39%, 2.50%, 3.45% and 5.06%. The results at two weeks after oil application (2WAOA) showed significant decrease in soil pH from 4.90 in the control to 4.35 in 5.06% pollution levels resulting in soil reaction being rated as extremely acid in oil polluted soils compared to the control with soil/rea...
Influence of soil series and some soil physico-chemical properties on weed flora composition, den... more Influence of soil series and some soil physico-chemical properties on weed flora composition, density and distribution were assessed. The main objective was to find relationship between soil series and the distribution of different weed species as well as identify those soil properties, which significantly influence the occurrences of specific weed species. Using a detailed soil map (1:10,000), weeds and soil samples were drawn from five soil mapping units – Apomu series, Mamu series, Ibadan series, Iregun series and Iwo series each covering 1.5 ha of the land. From the result of field study occurrences and distribution of different weed species were associated more or less with some soil series than others. Chi-square test of associations showed a high and significant association (χ 2 = 28-88, P = 0.01- 0.001), between soil series and weed occurrence. A stepwise multiple regression analysis (P < 0.05) showed that the soil property for most of the variation in the distribution of...
The influence of cropping systems on the characteristics and fertility of soils derived from beac... more The influence of cropping systems on the characteristics and fertility of soils derived from beach sands was investigated. The study site was the Cross-River Basin farm, Onna Local Government, in the Niger Delta area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two cropping systems-sole cropping (SC) and mixed cropping (MC) and fallow plot [FP] as control, were examined. Pineapple (Ananas commosus) plot and water melon (Citrullus lanatus) plot, represented SC. Plantain/cassava (Musa spp/Manihot esculenta) plot and water leaf/scent leaf (Talinum triangulare L./Ocimum grattissimum) plot represented MC. Representative soil samples were collected at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths from each plot for laboratory analysis. The result showed that irrespective of cropping system or soil depth, total nitrogen [N] and exchangeable potassium (K) were low – (values below critical levels: < 0.15% and < 0.20 cmol/kg, respectively). Available phosphorus (P) was medium 8 – 20 mg/kg) at both depths in the pineapple p...
The land of Akwa Ibom State in a humid tropical area of southern Nigeria, was assessed for yam (D... more The land of Akwa Ibom State in a humid tropical area of southern Nigeria, was assessed for yam (Discorea spp) cultivation using the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Land Suitability Evaluation (LSE) system. Twenty nine pedons (about 40% of the state’s land area) identified through field soil survey were evaluated. The results showed that by individual rating, certain land qualities/characteristics:– climate, drainage, soil depth and organic matter content were optimal, others were sub-optimal or grossly inadequate for yam cultivation. However suitability aggregate rating and suitability classification of the 29 pedons showed that about 72% of the area was only marginally suitable, while 28% was not suitable for yam cultivation. The most severely limiting land quality characteristic for yam cultivation in the area was chemical fertility, most importantly, exchangeable potassium (K) and low base saturation. For optimum yam performance, much investment in K fertilizer applicatio...
Influence of soil series and some soil physico-chemical properties on weed flora composition, den... more Influence of soil series and some soil physico-chemical properties on weed flora composition, density and distribution were assessed. The main objective was to find relationship between soil series and the distribution of different weed species as well as identify those soil properties, which significantly influence the occurrences of specific weed species. Using a detailed soil map (1:10,000), weeds and soil samples were drawn from five soil mapping units - Apomu series, Mamu series, Ibadan series, Iregun series and Iwo series each covering 1.5 ha of the land. From the result of field study occurrences and distribution of different weed species were associated more or less with some soil series than others. Chi-square test of associations showed a high and significant association (χ 2 = 28-88, P = 0.01- 0.001), between soil series and weed occurrence. A stepwise multiple regression analysis (P < 0.05) showed that the soil property for most of the variation in the distribution of...
A field soil survey and laboratory studies were carried out to examine the influence of crude oil... more A field soil survey and laboratory studies were carried out to examine the influence of crude oil and industrial wastes pollution on soil profile development and characteristics in Ikot Abasi, Niger Delta area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Nine soil profiles, three each, in oil affected site (OAS), industrial waste affected site (IWAS) and non-contaminated (control) site (NCS), respectively, were studied. Soil samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory for some physical and chemical properties. The result of soil classification following the USDA Soil Taxonomy and correlated with the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) showed that all the three pedons from the control (NCS) were highly weathered and matured soils (Ultisols). Of the three pedons from the OAS, two (66.7%) were matured while one (33.3%) was young soil (Inceptisol/Cambisol). Similarly, of the three pedons from the IWAS, one (33.3%) was matured (Ultisols/Acrisols) while two pedons (66.7%) were young soils (Inceptisols/Cambisols). This indicates that environmental pollution can retard soil formation and profile development resulting in relatively young soils. Furthermore, analysis of variance (ANOVA), showed that soils of OAS were significantly (P< 0.05) different from those of IWAS and NCS in 12(52.2%) and seven (30.4%), respectively, of the 23 soil properties considered. Also, soils of IWAS were significantly different from those of the NCS in six (26.1%) of the soil properties. The result further showed that oil pollution significantly increased soil total hydrocarbon (THC) and lead (Pb) contents as well as organic matter content (OM), available phosphorous (P) exchangeable potassium (K), micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and lowered exchangeable acidity (EA). Industrial wastes also increased soil exchangeable calcium (Ca) and K and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and lowered EA. Therefore, appropriate remediation and land management practices can ameliorate the harmful effects of these pollution activities while the essential nutrients and positive influences imparted to the soil during the pollution are harnessed to improve the land/soil qualities and characteristics.
Uploads