Abstract
Hydrological and geochemical analyses of Ubibia-Awalo Inland Valley were carried out to evaluate the study area’s hydrogeological characteristics and nutrient fluxes to ascertain its potentials for optimal utilization for enhanced agricultural activities. Fourteen (14) piezometers were installed at different points within the inland valley and were monitored for groundwater fluctuation for about two months. Similarly, the ionic concentrations of the soil nutrients, as well as the water retention capacity, were studied. Results revealed that the study area is underlain mainly by clay/shale materials with high retention capacities (20–60%), low water content (0.01–0.09 cm/hr), and ionic fluxes which lie between 0.001–0.008 mg/hr. The micro-nutrient concentrations range in value from 2–17 mg/kg, 140 – 517.3 mg/kg, and 52–474.2 mg/kg for manganese, zinc, and iron, respectively, while the macro-nutrients range from 339–971 mg/kg, 255–640 mg/kg, and 12,000–448,000 mg/kg for magnesium, sodium, and calcium, respectively. The major nutrients' concentrations, including total nitrogen, available phosphorous, and potassium, vary from 11,000–25,600 mg/kg, 53.2–277.2 mg/kg, and 450–1950 mg/kg, respectively. These high values are attributable to the use of fertilizer for farming within the study area and soil biochemical transformation of nutrients under waterlogged conditions. The high water retaining capacity when combined with the low nutrient flux drives the low rate of available water penetration through the soil. Therefore, the low values of the ions indicate that the clay is adsorbing greater proportions of the ions, which are subsequently released for plant growth.
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BOU carried out the investigation, data curation, and manuscript draft. AIO contribute toward conceptualization, methodology, field and laboratory studies, validation, reviews, and editing. GIN supervised, helped in writing reviews, and editing. FCI contributed to methodology, data analysis, writing reviews, and editing. DKO contributed to validation, visualization, writing review, and editing. PUU contributed to methodology, data analysis, writing reviews, and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Ubechu, B.O., Opara, A.I., Nwankwor, G.I. et al. Hydrogeological Characteristics and Nutrient Fluxes of a Tropical Wetland: A Case Study of the Ubibia–Awalo Inland Valley and Environs, Southeastern Nigeria. Arab J Geosci 15, 344 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-09485-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-09485-6