Phosphate sorption capacity, bonding energy and buffering capacity of wetland soils in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria were assessed for effective and sustainable soil management. Three wetland types (inland depression, river floodplain and coastal swamp) were selected for the study. In each wetland type, three locations were selected (9 locations) and in each location, soil samples were collected from 3 points at the depth of 0 -30cm and bulked to form composite samples using soil auger and taken to the laboratory for analysis. In the laboratory, a solution containing 0, 20, 40 and 80 ml prepared from 6.15g of KH2 PO4 (Potassium hydrogen phosphate) in 1500ml of distilled water and make up to two (2) litres with distilled water was used for the study. 2.5g of soil samples were weighed into a 50ml plastic cup and 2.5ml of each of the 4 sorption treatments solution were added to each of the soil in the cups and mixed thoroughly for effective mixing of P solution with the soil. The set ups were covered and incubated for 7 days. The treated soil samples were watered with deionized water once to keep the sample moist throughout the period of incubation. On the 7th day, P in each of the treated soil samples and the leachate were extracted using Bray-P-1 extractant. The P in the extract was determined using Murphy and Riley method. The P extracted from the soil samples were considered to be P adsorbed while P in the leachate samples were considered to be P in solution. Langmuir equation was used to estimate P adsorption capacity, bonding energy and P buffering capacity of the soils. The results showed that floodplain soils had the highest mean phosphate adsorption capacity (0.50 mgkg -1 ), followed by soils of inland depression (0.32 mgkg -1 ) while coastal swamp soils had the least (0.09 mgkg -1 ). The trend was as follow: floodplain soils > soils of inland depression > coastal swamp soils. Coastal swamp soils had the highest bonding energy (0.54 Lmg -1 ), followed by floodplain soils (0.27 Lmg -1 ) while soils of inland depression had the least (0.07 Lmg -1 ). The trend was as follow: coastal swamp soils > floodplain soils > soils of inland depression. Floodplain soils had the highest maximum buffering capacity (0.047), followed by coastal swamp soil (0.042) while soils of inland depression had the least (0.018). The trend was as follow: Floodplain soils > coastal swamp soils > soils of inland depression. Hence, the three wetland soil types were not the same in P sorption capacity, bonding energy and buffering capacity.

Impacts of gas explosion on water qualities and soil properties in Ikot-Asute, Oruk Anam L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State were studied. The aim was to establish baseline information on the impacts of gas explosion on water and soil properties. Soil samples were collected from three points and bulked to form composite sample at depth of 0-15 and 15-30 cm using soil auger within the vicinity of explosion and along the pipeline corridor. Also, soil samples were collected 300m away from the gas explosion vicinity to serve as control. A total of 7 composite soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis. Undisturbed soil samples were equally collected using core ring for the determination of permeability and bulk density. Rain and stream water were collected within the vicinity of explosion. The samples were properly bagged, labelled and taken to the laboratory for analysis. The study revealed that, in comparison with the control, gas explosion increased sand fraction, bulk density and reduced clay fraction, permeability and total porosity. Gas explosion reduced soil pH, soil organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, Na and K), cation exchange capacity and raised electrical conductivity and exchangeable acidity. Gas explosion also increased the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni in the soil. Water qualities affected by gas explosion were temperature, pH, turbidity, chloride, Cd, Ni and Cr. These parameters were raised by gas explosion in the area. Therefore, gas explosion is responsible for the fast decline in soil and water qualities in the vicinity.