ABSTRACT
Soils are flooded when their pore spaces are been saturated with water, this phenomenon has a way of modifying the status of micronutrients like (Zinc, Manganese and Copper). Micronutrients are the nutrient elements needed by plants in a very small but effective quantities. The aim of this study is to determine the Status of selected micronutrients in soils of flooded area. Soils were collected in three depths (0-15cm,15-30cm, 30-45cm) from three locations across three sites which are Sapele Road, St Saviour and Upper sakponba in Ikpoba- Okha Local Government Area. Laboratory analysis were carried out in using standard laboratory methods. From this study, it shows that the soil pH is slightly acid and in good value to the soil and plant growth, it also shows that Zinc, Manganese and Copper were prevalent in top soils (0-15cm) of sample sites. Result shows that in top soils, sand particles were more than other particles such as clay and silt, aluminum ion is lacking at both Sapele Road and St Saviour , this could be due to leaching, pH, parent material or human activities. From this study pH, correlates positively with all of the soil chemical, physical properties and micro nutrients in exception of Electric conductivity (-0.720*), Hydrogen ion (-0.737*) and clay (-0.803*). From this study the concentration of Zinc in the soil samples studied was below critical level of 55mg/kg, the concentration of Manganese in the soil sample studied is higher than the critical limit of 0.3mg/kg, the copper concentration in the soil sample studied is found to be 0.5-5mg/kg. Zinc, Manganese and Copper correlated positively with all of soil chemical, physical properties and selected micro nutrients in exception of Electrical conductivity, Clay and Hydrogen ion. It is therefore recommended that as for areas where there was a positive correlation between pH and micronutrients; the pH should be slightly acid (5.5-6.5) as it is favourable to plants, this can be maintained by use of Organic manure, minimum liming/use of liming materials to raise pH from strongly acidic to weakly acidic and flood control schemes/programs can be carried out through government agencies to educate the society on dangers of flooding and how to control it.
