Impact of upstream industrial effluents on irrigation water quality, soils and plant in Alakia Area of Ibadan

A.O Eruola,K.O Ayoola,J.A Awomeso,A.A Makinde

doi:10.4314/jasem.v20i3.17

Abstract

Knowledge of irrigation water quality is critical to predicting, managing and reducing salt affect on soils. The study assessed the effect of industrial effluents on irrigation water quality, soils and plant tissues in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. The degree of pollution was evaluated using Sodium adsorption ratio, pH, cations – Cl and NO3 and 4 heavy metals including Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn using standard procedures. The study established the presence of High pH (pH= 6.65) that caused high alkalinity leading to high SAR of 11.1 which is as a result of calcium and magnesium ions forming insoluble minerals leaving sodium as the dominant ion in solution. Presence of heavy metals in concentration higher than the recommended limits in irrigation water samples analyzed with Cd (0.05 ppm), Cu (0.3 ppm), Pb (0.03 ppm) and Zn (4.0 ppm) in the study location. It was concluded that Eleshin stream and the surrounding ground water is fit for irrigation in relation to sodium hazard, although it is acidic, thus enhancing leaching and corrosive tendencies of the irrigation water. High level of heavy metals in the soil indicated contamination from the effluent from the factories in the area. Plant sampled indicated the presence of higher level of Pb and Cd in the tissues of leaf and roots than that of the reference samples.Keywords: Pollution, discharge, effluent, irrigation, SAR, heavy metals

Highlights

Industrialization has transformed life on earth to levels previously unimaginable but has been of immense concern due to the wealth generated and the associated pollution as well as the threat to environment and human health
The aim of this study was to assess the impact of impact of upstream industrial effluents discharge in streams and ground water used for irrigation water quality, as well as the vegetation in Nigeria
Water: From the irrigation water quality analysis results obtained from the field sampling in the communities presented in figure 2, the pH was mostly acidic (5.35-6.5) and this does not conform with the permissible range of 6.5-8.5 (FAO, 1985) and those of the control samples

Summary

Introduction

Industrialization has transformed life on earth to levels previously unimaginable but has been of immense concern due to the wealth generated and the associated pollution as well as the threat to environment and human health. Despite the effort of Nigeria Government in putting up pollution abatement measures and to treat their waste, waste waters before discharging into the nation’s sustainable development through legal framework, over 80% of industries still discharge solid waste, liquid effluent and gaseous emission directly into the environment without treatment (Federal Ministry of Water Resources, 1994). This scenario points to a growing problem of industrial pollution that threatens the health of the ecosystem (water sources) and in particular agricultural activities.

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