ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED HEAVY METALS AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS PLANTED TO VEGETABLES, LOKOJA RIVERSIDE.

The study assessed selected heavy metals, Copper (Cu), Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), and Cadmium (Cd) and physic-chemical properties of soils planted with vegetables (Amarathus, Pepper, Okra, and Tomato) Lokoja. The objectives were to determine the level of selected heavy metals in soils planted with vegetables and the physic-chemical properties of the soils. Soil samples were randomly collected and bulked from the different farms and uncultivated land (control) at a depth of 0-15 and 15- 30 cm making a total of 18 composite samples. Data were analyzed for physiochemical properties and heavy metals. Results showed that all the soils has a textural class sandy clay which implies that they were made from similar parent material, soil pH ranged from 5.90-6.80 which was considered ideal for optimal plant growth. The organic matter content the farms ranged from 2.13-4.59 which were ideal using a using a critical level of 2.0%. The total nitrogen was very low when compared to the critical level. However, the soils were rich in available phosphorus and the exchangeable bases. The selected heavy metals were below the permissible level set by FAO and WHO for agricultural soil in all the vegetable farms. It is suggested that the study area should be monitored regularly should there be any case of future occurrences of accumulation of heavy metals in the soil and crops to prevent excessive buildup in food chain.