Quality Studies for Some Physicochemical Parameters and Textural Properties of Soil On Irrigated Farm Sites in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

The study was carried out to evaluate the quality of some physicochemical parameters and textural properties of soil on irrigated farm sites in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. The Soil samples were collected along the river bank in dry seasons from three (3) irrigated farm sites and were analysed using standard methods. Soil pH generally acidic in all the farm sites. Levels of pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), nitrate, phosphate, chloride and sulphate did not vary significantly according to sites (P≤0.05) except for phosphate in farm B. Levels of pH (5.94±0.78) and Cl- (0.32±0.01) were higher in farm A, PO43- (15.05±0.94) and NO3- (0.28±0.03) in farm B and CEC (0.37±0.04) and (0.48±0.36) SO4 2- in farm C. Levels of physicochemical parameters of soil were within the WHO/FAO permissible limits for irrigation. The acidic nature of soil may lead to re-mobilization of heavy metals adsorbed onto the sediment surfaces into the water column, which may result to pollution. Textural properties of soil recorded higher sandy fractions (75±0.63) in all the farm sites; however, Silt (5±0.03) and Clay (20±0.18) were lower. The nature of the soils from these farms may be suitable for sanitary landfills. Since high sand content of any soil implies high leaching potentials with high permeability of water, the underground water beneath these farm areas could be threatened by pollutants from the farm sites. The implication is that the vegetables grown in these farm lands may be deficient in some of the nutrients to grow.