Physico-chemical Characteristics and Heavymetal contents in Soil of South West EL-Fasher City,Western Sudan.

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to assess levels of trace and heavy elements in South west EL-Fasher cityin North Darfur soils and to provide information regarding accumulation of these metalsin top and sub-soils and to determine the most important soil factors (chemical and physical) which influence trace and heavy elements concentrations in soil.Top and sub-soil samples were taken at various locations in South west EL-Fasher city. The soil characterization was carried out for parameters like pH, E.C, O.C, M.C, soil texture, and trace and heavy elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn). The results obtained in this research work provides documentation of the relationship between physicochemical properties and heavy metals concentrations in soils of North Darfur. The pH was found to be slightly alkaline. The values of E.C indicated that all samples of the soils are non-saline. Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn and Cu were distributed in very high concentrations compared to other metals. This study will help the industrial section and can be benefit from it for commercial purposes.There were obvious differences in correlation coefficients among the selected criteria (65.6% from total number of correlated between pH and some other selected physicochemical characteristics, whereas 42.3% from the total number were positive correlated between soil texture and some other selected physicochemical characteristics. This study can serves as a database of trace and heavy elements build-up in soil, allowing preventive actions to be taken.