Abstract
Seasonal impact on soil trace metals and phytoaccumulation potentials of Cucurbita pepo, Cucumis sativus and Taliferia occidentalis grown in Ishiagu quarry mining effluent discharge soils were investigated. Soil samples were collected 200 m (sample C), 100 m (sample B) away from discharge point (sample A) in wet and dry seasons. Trace metals were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results reveal a significant decrease in levels of trace metals distance away from discharge points in the order A>B>C. Findings from the study show significant increase in level of soil trace metals in dry season compared to wet season. Phyto-accumulation potentials of the vegetables showed significant increase in level of trace metals in roots and shoots in dry season compared to wet season. Level of these metals were significantly higher compared to control. This is indicative of the potential risk associated with consumption of vegetables grown in these sites especially in dry seasons. The rural dwellers should be discouraged from planting edible vegetables around Ishiagu quarry mining effluent discharge soils in order to reduce excessive build-up of these metals in the human food chain. Key words: Phyto-accumulation, trace metals, quarry mining, discharge soils, seasonal impact.
Highlights
Mining activities are well known for their deleterious effect on the environment due to deposition of large volume of waste on the soil
Soil trace metals content of mining effluent discharge soils as obtained from this study were significantly higher than the control
The high level of trace metals at the discharge points could be due to lower acidic pH
Summary
Mining activities are well known for their deleterious effect on the environment due to deposition of large volume of waste on the soil. Environmental impacts of such mining operations are potentially long lasting due to destruction of vegetation, surface runoff of organic matter and the overall degradation of soil structure affecting plant and microbial growth. According to Oluyemi et al (2008), disruption of the existing balance in the soil usually leads to reduction in its productivity and quality of agricultural products as soil is a vital resource for sustaining two human needs of quality food supply and quality environment The concentration of these trace elements in soils are associated with several factors such as biological and biogeochemical cycling, parent materials and mineralogy, soil age, organic matter, soil pH, redox concentration and microbial activities (Kabata-pendias, 2004; Obasi et al, 2013).
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