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Physico-chemical Quality of Reservoir Sediments under Long Term Amendment with Organic Manure


Nnaji, J. C.
Page No. 1-6


Abstract

The study was undertaken to analyse physico-chemical quality of sediments collected from a 1.5 ha
reservoir which was amended with organic manure over a fifteen year period. Sediment samples
were collected from 10 sampling points on the reservoir and mean pH, conductivity, organic
matter, nitrate and total nitrogen had values of 7.57 ±0.80, 355.7 ±115.71 μScm-1, 8.78 ±1.83 %,
12.12 ±5.53 mg kg-1 and 49.70 ±21.81 mg kg-1, respectively. Also, total phosphorus, available
phosphorus and cation exchange capacity had mean values of 74.61 ±41.50 mg kg-1, 12.46 ±5.84
mg kg-1 and 16.48 ±4.72 mmol cm-1, respectively. Total heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn))
were determined in the samples and mean Zn concentration was significantly higher (P<0.05) than
the mean concentrations of other metals. The profile of mean metal concentrations in the bed
sediments was Zn>Cu>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd. Mean Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations exceed the USEPA
(1997) threshold effect levels in sediments and this is due to the long term application of manure
without the dredging of the sediments.
Keywords: Reservoir, sediment, manure, physico-chemical, metals


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