Analysis of Mercury Levels in Agricultural Soils and Citrus Varieties from Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Mercury levels in agricultural soils and three citrus varieties (Washington, Ibadan Sweet and Valencia) in seven (7) local government areas of Benue State were determined using standard techniques. The mean physico-chemical parameters of the soils ranges from: pH (5.20-6.10); CEC (10.5-12.9 cmolkg-1); organic carbon (2.35-3.39%) and organic matter (6.17-7.37%). The mean Hg levels in the soils ranges from 20.5-21.2 µgkg-1. The mean proximate parameters are: fat in Valencia (0.330%); fibre in Valencia (0.490%); moisture in Valencia (87.4%); ash in Valencia (1.80%) and carbohydrate in Ibadan sweet (17.7%). The mean Hg concentration in the citrus juice ranges from: Washington (0.770-6.35 µgkg-1); Ibadan sweet (0.770-6.53 µgkg-1) and in Valencia (0.770-5.22 µgkg-1). The order of accumulation of Hg in the citrus varieties is Ibadan sweet > Washington > Valencia. The concentrations of Hg in the three citrus fruit juice and soil do not exceed the WHO/FAO permissible limits of 100 and 1000 µgkg-1 for foods and agricultural soils respectively. However, continues monitoring is hereby recommended.

Empirical Model Valuation of Urban Agriculture Vulnerability to Flooding in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

“…As the Nation's food basket, Benue state is the major sources of yams, sorghum, millet, rice, cassava, shea nuts, sesame oil, peanuts (groundnuts), soybeans, and cotton to other parts of Nigeria. These agricultural products were grown by the Tiv, Idoma, Igede and other minorities' settlers (Okwu and Daudu 2011;Age et al 2012;Ugbidye et al 2020). Over the recent years, flood disaster among farm families in Benue State, Nigeria is a recurrent annual event with implication on food security, high level of poverty, low levels of human and physical capital, and poor infrastructure (Mbah et al 2020).…”