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Physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentration of soils along Enyigba mining site in Ikwo, Ebonyi State Nigeria

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Abstract

This study assessed the physicochemical properties of soils and their levels of heavy metal contents in soils along the Enyigba mining site in Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A total of 96 samples of soil were taken at depths of 0 to 20 cm using a soil auger and core sampler at a horizontal spacing of 100 m between each location and examined using standard laboratory techniques. The control soil samples were taken from the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Experimental and Research Farm in Ebonyi State, at a distance of 50 m from each spot at a depth of 0 to 20 cm. The results obtained from this study showed significant variations in the physicochemical properties and heavy metal levels of the soil from the Enyigba mining site, indicating that the mining activities have contaminated the soil. The result also indicated that mining operations may be responsible for the increase in sand and the decrease in silt and clay particles. The mining site’s pH was typically low, indicating that the soil is naturally acidic. The contamination indices showed that lead recorded very high contamination factor of 27.068, while iron, nickel and zinc were low. The observed high concentration factor of lead had an impact on the soil’s bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, total porosity, calcium, potassium ion, magnesium ion, total nitrogen, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, phosphorus and base saturation contents. It is recommended that the government’s Ministry of Environment, at all levels, take a proactive stance in managing the excessive and subpar mining operations in the study area.

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Fig. 1

Source: Department of Geography, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State Nigeria

Fig. 2

Source: Researcher’s Intern, 2022

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Data availability

The datasets generated during this work are not publically available for reasons known to the authors, but they are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

Our profound appreciation goes to the almighty God for his protection, goodness and mercy throughout the period of the study. We also express our gratitude to the staff of Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State Nigeria who made their laboratory facilities available for the analysis of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

    Odera Chukwumaijem Okafor

  2. Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Abakaliki, Nigeria

    Miracle Ogbonne Onwumere & Chidinma Susan Iroegbu

  3. Department of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

    Charles Ndubuisi Mbah

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  1. Odera Chukwumaijem Okafor
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  4. Charles Ndubuisi Mbah
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Dr. Odera Chukwumaijem Okafor, Miss. Miracle Ogbonne Onwumere, Mrs. Chidinma Susan Iroegbu and Prof. Charles Ndubuisi Mbah.

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Correspondence to Odera Chukwumaijem Okafor.

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Okafor, O.C., Onwumere, M.O., Iroegbu, C.S. et al. Physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentration of soils along Enyigba mining site in Ikwo, Ebonyi State Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 196, 414 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12565-7

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