Analysis of soil nutrient and water relationship of Ogbujilekwe stream watershed in Nimo, Njikoka, Anambra State

Abstract

The study on the assessment of soil/water nutrient relationship was carried out at Ogbujilekwe stream watershed in Njikoka, L.G.A. of Anambra state. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the level of soil nutrients of the watershed, with respect to depth, and to find out the relationship between the Phosphorus and Nitrogen in the watershed, with the Phosphate and Nitrate in the nearby stream. The watershed was delineated into three catchments and each, having three depth, 1, 2, 3, which ranges from 0- 20, 20-40 and 40- 60. The experimental design used for this research work was a randomized complete block design. The soil nutrients investigated include organic matter carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Also, the pH of the samples was tested. The result showed that soil nutrients were concentrated at upper depth and reduced with an increase in depth. Both the soil nutrient and water samples were significant (p<0.05) and Phosphorus was the most significant. The result from correlation analysis showed that Phosphorus on land were positively correlated with phosphate in water. There is, therefore, a need to enforce conservation measures on the watershed to avert future eutrophication.