Copper and Iron Distribution in Soil Profiles and Some Selected Vegetables of Saje and Sango Dump Sites

The current study was designed for determination of copper and iron and some physicochemical properties of soils collected from two selected dumpsites (Saje and Sango) in Ogun State, Nigeria by digging two depths of about 125cm. Samples were taken at different depth intervals of 25cm (i.e 0-25, 25-50, 50-75, 75-100 and 100-125cm). The soil were analyzed for physicochemical parameters such as Organic carbon, Organic matter, Soil pH, Electrical conductivity, Particle size, Cation Exhangeable Capacity, Available Phosphorus and Total Nitrogen and concentration of Copper and Iron using standard analytical methods. The Soil mean pH varied as 6.4±0.20, 6.4±0.50 and 5.9±0.35 in control, Saje and Sango dumpsites respectively. Total nitrogen (TN) content of the dump soils ranged from 0.102±0.05 to 0.209±0.01mg/kg. Soil organic matter ranged from 0.07 ±0.00 to 9.39 ±2.87%. Available P ranged from 22.02±1.01 to 33.3±1.78 mg/kg. ECEC levels were ranged from 263.21±23.06 to 491.06±27.86 cmol/kg. All the soil samples had exchangeable Ca, K, Mg and Na, far above the critical levels 4.0, 0.2, 1.5 and 0.5mg/kg respectively set by FAO for agricultural soil. Mean concentration of Cu ranged from 0.33 to 11.01±0.23 mg/kg and 0.43±0.17 to 5.16±6.42 in Sango and Saje dumpsites respectively and 0.41±0.21 to 0.98±0.07 mg/kg in the control. Mean concentration of Fe ranged between 18.1±11.17 to 308.0±186.68 in soil profile of both dumpsites. These values are all fall within the tolerable levels set by FAO and WHO for agricultural soil. It is suggested that the dumpsites and the control area with their adequate soil nutrients and low levels of metals should eventually be converted to agricultural farmland.