Levels of Some Trace Metals in the Fadama Soils and Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Along the Bank of River Challawa, Nigeria

Abstract

The Levels and distribution of pb, Cr and Cu in the soils and pepper (Capsicum annuum) on the bank of river challawa were investigated. The metals, expressed in mg kg-1 Dry Weights (DW) In the ranges:60.00-143.30 for pb (mean 114.79), 104.20-230.00 for Cr (mean 181.66) and 58.30-207.50 for Cu (mean 248.59) are obtained in soil samples; While 11.33-27.00 for fb (mean 14.52) are obtained in paper samples. The relationship of metals was also examined for dependency upon some soil factor through the use of correlation analysis. Also, the result show the presence of correlation between metals in the soil pepper, which indicate possible transfer of these metals into the food chain. This has indirectly caused the accumulated of these heavy metals in the agricultural soils through irrigation and subsequently in the pepper planted in them, such that their concentrations in the soils and pepper (except Cu in pepper)exceed the recommended permissible limits.