Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of soils around quarry terrain in Akamkpa local government area, Cross River State-Nigeria

¹*Abua Moses and ²Eyo Edet

¹Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Calabar-Nigeria
²Department of Agric Econs and Extension, University of Calabar, Calabar-Nigeria

*Corresponding Author E-mail:ask4mossabua@yahoo.com

Accepted March 26, 2013

Abstract

Soils around the quarry sites in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State - Nigeria were studied for physico-chemical parameters and heavy metal status. Samples were collected using soil auger at designated transects at the depths of 0-15cm and 15-30cm compositely. The soils are derived from acid crystalline rocks which are made up of granites and gneisses. They are characterized by coarse texture (mostly sand and loamy sand), strong acidity (PH range, 4.9 - 6.8), weakly-structured, medium organic carbon contents (0.42 - 3.21%), and low contents of exchangeable bases and available p contents (I5mgkg^-1) in the proscribed transects the mean bulk density (1.49mgm^-3) and its corresponding pore space (43.8%) suggests that the area is impacted by dense human activities occasioned by the quarry operations. Heavy metal status of the soils was within the threshold limits established for mineral soil environment. The soils may lack adsorptive capacity for pollutants based on the results of analysis. The level of organic carbon and total nitrogen cannot sustain intensive crop husbandry in the prescribed area. Thus, productivity of the soils could be improved via liming and application of organic/inorganic nutrients for sustainable cropping system in the ecological zone.
 
Keywords: Assessment of soil, Terrain, Quarry, Physical-chemical Parameters, Heavy metals, ecological zone