ABSTRACT
This experiment was conducted in the University of Benin, Benin City to ascertain the heavy metal status of soils under different dump sites in the Ugbowo Campus of University of Benin. Twelve (12) different dump sites were carefully selected, three (3) samples each from four (4) different land uses which are; Arable farm, residential area, learning centres and shopping centres. Auger samples were taken at 0 - 15 cm and 15 - 30 cm depths for each location and composite samples of each depth per dump site was made. Samples collected were labelled and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Parameters measured include pH, total nitrogen (N), total organic carbon (TOC), available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), hydrogen (H), Aluminium as well as sand, silt and clay contents. Results showed that arable farm had the least pH (4.00) in the 15 - 30cm depth while the highest value of 5.88 was recorded in the 0 - 15 cm depth in shopping centres. pH increase with increase in depth in the learning centres but reduced in others. Calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium were highest in shopping centres in the 0 - 15cm depth. TOC, total nitrogen and available phosphorus were highest in the arable farm in the 0 - 15 cm depth, their valuest also decreased with depth in all dump sites studied. The sand content reduced with depth in all the dump sites studied while clay content increased with depth in all, also the silt content decrease with depth in all the dump sites studied. Among all the metals analysed, Fe had the highest concentration followed by Cu both in 0 - 15 cm and 15 - 30 cm depth in all the dump sites studied.All the metals decrease with decrease in depth, Shopping centres had the highest concentration of all the metals analysed.
