ABSTRACT

In today’s world due to rapid industrialization and to cope up with the demand of this exponentially growing population we have completely ignored the consequences of such actions on nature which ultimately resulted in causing serious damage to our environment. This study aimed at the impact of Acid rain on heavy metals in  soils developed on coastal plain sands parent materials  in Ovia North East   Local Government Area, Edo State.

 Soil samples were collected using the soil auger from two soil depth (0-30, 30-60cm) from Junior staff Quarters, Hall 2 Area and AGR 305 Farm located in University of Benin, Ovia North East Local Government Area Edo State. Laboratory analysis was carried out on the soil samples using  standard methods. The soil was analyzed for Particle size distribution, chemical properties and some selected heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, Arsenic and lead ). The results shows that the predominant textural class was Sand, with varying proportions of clay, and silt. pH values for Junior staff quarters at 0-30cm soil depth indicates that soils are slightly acidic with pH values of 5.97 while pH for soils in AGR305 farm and Hall 2 area are acidic in nature with pH values of 5.42 and 5.64 respectively. This pH differences may impact soil fertility and Nutrient availability requiring adjustments to management practices. At 30-60cm depth, pH values for Soils around Junior staff quarters (5.97) indicates that the soil is strongly acidic. Arsenic negatively correlated with Aluminum (-0.574*), Available phosphorus ( -0.621*), Calcium ( -0.744*), Cadmium ( - 0.537*), Chromium ( -0.671*), Copper ( -0.622*), Iron ( -0.707*), Potassium (-0.836*), Magnesium (-0.0828*), Manganese ( -0.626*), Sodium ( -0.845*), Lead (-0.625*), Total Nitrogen (-0.615*), Organic Matter( -0. 532*), Zinc (-0.561*), pH (- 0.768*), Sand (-0.677*) and silt( -0.572*) but positively correlated with Hydrogen (0.945*) and Clay ( 0.634*).