Abstract

The problem of reasonable amount of heavy metals concentrations in agricultural soils creates a global environmental issue due to the importance of food production. This study was carried out to investigate ecological risk and contamination status of heavy metals in agricultural soils of Funtua area Katsina state. For this purpose, twelve soil samples were collected from farmlands. The soil samples were analyzed for Pb, Cr, Cd, Mn, Zn and Fe using atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the concentrations of selected heavy elements. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the obtained data and Pearson’s correlation analysis were also performed. The mean concentration of Pb (0.098), Cr (0.292), Cd (0.233), Mn (0.233), Zn (0.171) and Fe (0.185) were found below the CCME limits in agricultural soils. Result of I-geo revealed moderately polluted by Cd at Maska 3 (1.125) and unpolluted in all samples, the soil was found to be moderately contaminated with Cd and considerably and very high CF for Cd at Maska 3, Maigamji 1, Goya 2 and Goya 3. CD showed five sites having low degree of contamination and the rest having considerable degree of contamination, PLI revealed unpolluted in all samples. High and very high ecological risk for Cd was observed in all samples. Correlation analysis revealed positive correlation between Cr and Mn, Cd and Mn, Cd and Fe, Mn and Zn, Zn and Fe. It is concluded that the area has highly ecological risk contaminated. Monitoring of cadmium concentration in the area is highly recommended.