TRACE METALS IN SOILS AND PLANTS FROM FADAMA FARMS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Levels of zinc, manganese, cobalt, selenium, copper, molybdenum, chromium, iron, aluminium, lead and cadmium were determined in plant organs (buds, flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, stems, roots, cobs, styles, shaft, grains and efflorescences) and underlying soils of three Fadama farms located in Ifaki-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti of Ekiti State, Nigeria at 0–15 cm topsoil level. The pH levels were alkaline (7.0±0.3 – 8.1±0.7) while the soil texture ranged between loamy sand and sandy loam. There was similarity in Zn trend as was observed in Mn, Fe and Cu but they were of lower levels than Zn. Only Zn and Fe were mostly concentrated in the plant organs with Mn in very few plants. The index of bioaccumulation (ratio in plant/soil) were recorded for only Zn and Fe with the degree of accumulation ranging from medium to intensive (0.87–1.34) in Fe but only intensive (1.41–4.42) in Zn.

KEY WORDS : Trace metals, Soils, Plant organs, Bioaccumulation Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2005, 19(1), 23-34.